MRI of the Neck (Soft Tissue, with Contrast)

Magnetic resonance imaging of the soft tissues of the neck, performed with a contrast agent to show the throat, salivary glands, lymph nodes, blood vessels and surrounding structures in detail. It is used to assess neck lumps, swollen glands, suspected soft-tissue lesions and other concerns where contrast helps characterise the tissues. At MojaDiagnoza this contrast-enhanced neck study is 999 zł, carried out on the centre's own scanner.

A soft-tissue MRI of the neck images the structures of the neck other than the spine — the pharynx and larynx, the salivary glands, the thyroid region, the lymph nodes, the major blood vessels and the surrounding muscle and fat. This examination is performed with a gadolinium-based contrast agent given through a small cannula in the arm, which enhances the blood supply of tissues and helps the radiologist characterise lumps, swollen lymph nodes, inflammatory changes and other soft-tissue findings more confidently than an unenhanced scan. At MojaDiagnoza the study is acquired on the centre's own MRI system. You lie still while the images are obtained, and contrast is administered partway through the examination, so the appointment typically runs a little longer than a routine joint scan, usually around thirty to forty minutes in total. Ear protection is provided because the scanner is noisy during acquisition. Because contrast is involved, the team checks kidney function information and asks about allergies and previous reactions before proceeding. This contrast-enhanced neck examination is priced at 999 zł. The images are described by a radiology specialist and the report and pictures are released through the RadPoint online portal, usually within around 96 hours. As with any MRI, a safety questionnaire is reviewed first, since certain implants, pacemakers or metal fragments can make the scan unsuitable.