MRI Patient Care and Positioning Flashcards
6 cards from real MRI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 MRI Patient Care and Positioning flashcards as text
Which coil configuration is used to image the entire spine in a single acquisition with uniform SNR?
Answer: Phased-array spine coil spanning cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions
A multi-element phased-array spine coil allows large FOV imaging with high SNR throughout the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine in a single or stitched acquisition.
For MRI of the knee, the standard patient position is:
Answer: Knee extended in slight external rotation (5–15°), patient supine in dedicated knee coil
The knee is imaged supine with slight external rotation (5–15°) to align the ACL parallel to the sagittal plane for optimal visualization within a dedicated knee coil.
A patient develops nausea and vomiting during IV gadolinium infusion. The most appropriate immediate action is to:
Answer: Stop the infusion, assess the patient, and administer antiemetic if needed while monitoring for escalation
Nausea and vomiting may be physiologic reactions to GBCA; the injection should be stopped, the patient assessed, symptoms treated, and the reaction monitored for potential escalation to a more serious event.
Which patient positioning accessory is routinely used to reduce hand and wrist movement during an MRI wrist examination?
Answer: Dedicated wrist coil with the patient prone and arm extended overhead ('Superman position')
The 'Superman position' with the arm extended overhead minimizes the distance from wrist to isocenter and uses a dedicated wrist coil, optimizing SNR and reducing motion artifact.
Which MRI-compatible monitoring device is used to detect heart rate and trigger cardiac-gated sequences?
Answer: MR-conditional ECG with carbon or fiber-optic leads free of conductive loops
MR-conditional ECG systems with non-conductive or carbon fiber leads detect the R-wave for cardiac gating without creating conductive loops that could cause burns.
When should a technologist notify the supervising radiologist or radiologist immediately during an MRI exam?
Answer: When any adverse reaction to contrast, change in patient condition, or safety concern arises
Any adverse reaction to contrast agent, unexpected change in patient condition (loss of consciousness, seizure, cardiac event), or safety concern requires immediate radiologist notification.