HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does My MRI Scan Report Indicate?

default
Posted on Thu, 9 Mar 2017
Question: I had a MRI on my foot today and thought I was not moving said that she was seeing twitching and muscle spasm and it was causing problems getting a clear picture. Most of the time I did not even feel what she was seeing. What would cause this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She was detecting MOVEMENT ARTIFACT

Detailed Answer:
MRI's are extremely sensitive to motion when running which is why the literally wrap you up like a mummy and put your head in a cage and tell you to FALL ASLEEP if possible. The technician probably was not seeing the actual foot MOVING unless they had a closed circuit camera recording the inside of the tube and she could physically see that twitching taking place. Otherwise, the movement will simply cause blurred images and the study may have to be redone depending upon what the reading neuroradiologist sees and thinks as to what they were looking for.

Causes to subtle tremor or twitching that is otherwise UNDETECTABLE by a patient include things such as the presence of a mild vibratory neuropathy in your ankle joint which means that the sensors that detect movement and vibration have their gain turned down for some reason. It could be from diabetes, could be Vitamin D, B12 deficiencies, amyloid deposition, it could come from medication, alcohol, or caffeine withdrawal. It could be a mild and subtle essential or action or even cerebellar tremor which could as the result of aging, genetic predisposition, or microvascular disease in the motor tracts from the cortex down through the brainstem.

When a person is wrapped up like Tutankhamen in that thing with all that noise that is going and the uncertainty that people could have going through that type of test is they've never done it before can cause you to be UNAWARE of a mild tremor (big enough to be seen by MRI) but not enough for your brain to attend to since they're so much else going on...make sense?

If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.

P.S. Thanks for that incredibly HISTORIC ONCE IN A LIFETIME SUPERBOWL! The only thing that would truly make me fall out of someone else's chair even...if it ever would happen in my short stay on the Earth....would be if the XXXXXXX Browns could pull off a Super Bowl Victory! LOL....

Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.

This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2472 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does My MRI Scan Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: She was detecting MOVEMENT ARTIFACT Detailed Answer: MRI's are extremely sensitive to motion when running which is why the literally wrap you up like a mummy and put your head in a cage and tell you to FALL ASLEEP if possible. The technician probably was not seeing the actual foot MOVING unless they had a closed circuit camera recording the inside of the tube and she could physically see that twitching taking place. Otherwise, the movement will simply cause blurred images and the study may have to be redone depending upon what the reading neuroradiologist sees and thinks as to what they were looking for. Causes to subtle tremor or twitching that is otherwise UNDETECTABLE by a patient include things such as the presence of a mild vibratory neuropathy in your ankle joint which means that the sensors that detect movement and vibration have their gain turned down for some reason. It could be from diabetes, could be Vitamin D, B12 deficiencies, amyloid deposition, it could come from medication, alcohol, or caffeine withdrawal. It could be a mild and subtle essential or action or even cerebellar tremor which could as the result of aging, genetic predisposition, or microvascular disease in the motor tracts from the cortex down through the brainstem. When a person is wrapped up like Tutankhamen in that thing with all that noise that is going and the uncertainty that people could have going through that type of test is they've never done it before can cause you to be UNAWARE of a mild tremor (big enough to be seen by MRI) but not enough for your brain to attend to since they're so much else going on...make sense? If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out. P.S. Thanks for that incredibly HISTORIC ONCE IN A LIFETIME SUPERBOWL! The only thing that would truly make me fall out of someone else's chair even...if it ever would happen in my short stay on the Earth....would be if the XXXXXXX Browns could pull off a Super Bowl Victory! LOL.... Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others. This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.