What to Expect from an MRI Exam with Contrast

Your MRI experience may come with an injection. If your doctor orders an MRI with contrast (or your radiologist recommends one), you’ll get an IV in your arm before you go into the machine. During your exam, the technologists will take some pictures and then you’ll get an injection of contrast through the IV before getting follow-up pictures. The contrast can highlight certain cancers or infected areas. By taking “before” and “after” images, those highlights can help your radiologist give you the most accurate diagnosis. Here’s what to expect if you need contrast for your MRI exam: