- Where is the hospital that houses the scanner?
- How do I get there/Can I park?
- Where is the scanner?
- What happens when I get there?
- Who will take the scan?
- What happens during a scan?
- Will I need an injection?
- Is scanning dangerous?
- What sort of images will be taken?
- What happens to the information my scan provides?
- Will the radiographer give me my results?
- How long will a scan take?
- What happens after the scan?
- Can I volunteer to be scanned?
![[Photograph of entrance to SBIRC]](/images/studySub/questions-sbirclocation.jpg)
1. Where is the hospital that houses the scanner?
The Western General hospital houses BRIC.? The Western General Hospital is between Crewe Road South and Telford Road in the Craigleith area of Edinburgh.
2. How do I get there/Can I park?
![[Photograph of car parking]](/images/studySub/questions-sbircparking.jpg)
The Western General is to the North West of the city centre. The hospital is well served by public transport (Lothian Buses 19, 29, 38, 37, 47 and 42).
Some limited parking is available but you may not be able to find a parking space. The closest car park to the scanner is Car Park 8. We would advise study subjects and visitors who live in the Edinburgh area to travel, if possible, by bus or arrange to be dropped off at the hospital by car. View a map of the WGH.
The Brain Research Imaging Centre (BRIC) is located in The University of Edinburgh's Division of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN) at The Western General Hospital. View a map of the WGH.
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![[Photograph of SBIRC waiting area]](/images/studySub/questions-sbircwaitingroom.jpg)
4. What happens when I get there?
When you arrive at DCN, please report to the DCN X-ray Reception Desk . You will be asked to have a seat in the reception area and a radiographer will come to collect you. Once in the Brain Research Imaging Centre, you will be asked to complete a screening form. Since the MRI scanner uses a strong magnetic field, it will pull on any metal objects on your person or implanted in the body, the radiographer will ask you to fill in a screening form, which will be checked carefully to ensure you are safe to enter the scanning room.
Once you are taken through to the MRI scanning suite, you will be asked to remove all metal objects such as watches, credit cards, keys, coins, lighters, jewellery, piercings, hairgrips etc. You may be asked to change into a gown. A locker will be provided for your belongings.
![[Photograph of 3 of the SBIRC radiographers]](/images/studySub/questions-radiographers.jpg)
A MRI radiographer will perform the scanning. The radiographers are highly skilled professionals with expertise in operating the MRI scanner and are part of the team of professionals who will be looking after you during your time at BRIC. The radiographers work closely with the radiologists, clinicians who specialise in interpreting the images resulting from your scan.
6. What happens during a scan?
![[Photograph of person in MRI scanner]](/images/studySub/questions-personinscanner.jpg)
After you have been screened and have changed into a gown, you will be taken into the scanning room and made comfortable on the scanner bed (using pillows and blankets as you choose). A specially shaped piece of equipment may be placed around the part of the body being scanned (this allows high quality images to be taken). Due to the unique way an MRI scanner works, a loud, banging noise will be heard while the actually scanning (to collect the information to make the images) is taking place. To listen to an example of the scanner noise, please listen to the scanner noise. To reduce the noise, you will be asked to wear ear defenders and earplugs.
MRI images are very sensitive to movement. By keeping very still during the scan you can improve the quality of the images we obtain. We have found that the best way to keep still is to be relaxed and lying comfortably. The MRI Radiographer will help make you comfortable in the scanner so that you feel settled, secure and relaxed.
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Sometimes, yes. For a few types of scan you will need a contrast agent in order to give a clearer picture of the area being scanned. It will be injected through a vein in your arm. This will not affect your driving and you will be asked to drink plenty of water to wash it out afterwards. The radiographers will be able to answer any questions you have.
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There are no known dangers associated with MRI. The scan is not painful (you will not feel anything) and since it does not use ionizing radiation, there are no known side-effects.
Since the MRI scanner is a very strong magnet, we have to be extremely careful about bringing metal objects into the scanning room. This is why all our study subjects are carefully screened and checked to ensure all metal objects (e.g. keys, jewellery) are removed before being scanned
9. What sort of images will be taken?
The type of images will depend on the study you are participating in and will be explained to you by the radiographers. All study subjects will have a standard, anatomical scan to show the details of the brain that will be checked by one of the neuroradiologists. Some study subjects will have a functional MRI (or fMRI) scan where an activity is performed while in the scanner (e.g. looking at pictures) and, if this is applicable, it will have been explained to you when you were asked to participate in the study. Most scans just require the study subject to lie still in the scanner while the images are being taken.
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10. What happens to the information my scan provides?
- If you are a subject having a scan for a clinical reason and not in a research study, a radiologist will look at your scan and send a report to the hospital consultant or GP who referred you for the scan. This usually takes 10 to 14 days.
- If you are a study subject taking part in a research study, a radiologist will look at your scan and send a report to the doctor running the study. This will then be forwarded to your GP with any other results as appropriate. This process takes between 10-14 working days.
- If you are a healthy person having a scan as a volunteer in a research project, a report documenting:
(a) that the scan took place,
(b) the type of scanning used, and
(c) any diagnostic information that was obtained
will be sent to the Principal Investigator of the study (if a clinician), or a nominated clinically-trained co-investigator if the principal investigator is not a clinician or a GP.
- In the case of normal healthy volunteers being scanned as part of the development of new sequences and NOT as part of any specific research project, the radiological report documenting the above points will be sent to your GP.
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11. Will the radiographer give me my results?
No. Some scans require specialist processing by our image analysts to obtain the results, whilst others need a radiologist with the clinical expertise to interpret the images. Please do not ask the radiographer for the result as they are not able to provide you with the result.
12. How long will a scan take?
That will depend on what is being studied, but a typical examination lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. You should always allow extra time in case the examination lasts longer than expected.
![[Photograph of brain images]](/images/studySub/questions-brainimage.jpg)
13. What happens after the scan?
There are no side effects of the scan and you will be able to return to you normal daily routine without any problems. Driving is also permitted after the scan.
14. Can I volunteer to be scanned?
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SCAN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS FOR RESEARCH UNLESS THEY ARE IN A SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT WITH A DESIGNATED PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR WITH CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY (OR NOMINATED CLINICALLY RESPONSIBLE DEPUTY) OR THE VOLUNTEER HAS A GP TO WHOM WE CAN SEND THE REPORT.
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The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.