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MRI examination

During an MRI examination, you lie in a magnetic field while the MRI machine produces images using radio waves. MRI examinations do not involve any form of X-ray radiation.

MRI examinations provide particularly good images of changes in muscle tissue, connective tissue and the central nervous system. MRI can also show disease-related changes in the skeleton, heart, breasts, blood vessels, urinary tract and abdominal organs, including the intestines.

Because of the magnetic field, the referral must include information about    

  • metal or electronic devices implanted in the body  
  • pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
  • neurostimulator
  • ventriculoperitoneal/ventriculoatrial shunt
  • implanted hearing aid
  • clips on blood vessels in the head
  • metal splinter in the eye
  • whether the patient is pregnant 

Other information required in the referral
•    whether the patient has kidney failure
•    whether the patient is unable to lie still and on their back
•    whether the patient needs an interpreter, and which language the patient speaks.

    

Before

Because of the strong magnetic field, the hospital or referring doctor must know in advance if you:

  • have a pacemaker
  • have an implanted hearing aid
  • have other implanted metal or electronic devices
  • have clips on blood vessels in your head
  • have a metal splinter in your eye
  • are pregnant

Checklist: The following must be removed before the examination: 

  • Watches, bank cards and credit cards. These may be damaged by the magnetic field 
  • Metal objects such as glasses, pens, keys, hairpins and jewellery. These may be pulled towards the machine at high speed.  
  • Hearing aid. It may be affected by the magnetic field.  
  • Dentures. They may interfere with the images and must be removed if you are having your head/neck examined.  
  • Eye makeup. It may contain small metal particles that can interfere with the images. 
If you take medication, you may take it as usual. 

If you are having an examination of the abdomen, you will often need to fast for a few hours beforehand. You will be informed of this in your appointment letter. If you do not need to fast, you can eat and drink as usual. 

If you are breastfeeding, please contact us before your appointment.

During

During the examination, you lie on a table that moves into a tube-shaped machine that is open at both ends. You will enter head or feet first, depending on which part of your body is being examined. The area being examined must be positioned in the centre of the magnetic field. It is important that you lie completely still to ensure the images are of good quality. 

While the images are being taken, you will hear a series of knocking sounds. It is important to remain still while this knocking is in progress. You will be given earplugs or hearing protection to reduce the noise.

If you feel you need to bring someone with you, they can sit in the room with you during the examination. The MRI checklist also applies to anyone accompanying you in the room. 

If you are having your pelvic organs examined, it may also be necessary to give you an injection of a substance that temporarily stops the intestines from moving. Intestinal movement can interfere with the images.

The examination takes between 15 minutes and 1½ hours, depending on which area is being examined and how many images need to be taken.

Does it hurt?

The examination itself is not painful, but it may be difficult to lie still. It is therefore important to find a comfortable position. You will be given pillows and other support to help you lie still. 

You may feel warm during the examination. This is not painful or dangerous. The sensation will pass when the examination is over. 

For some examinations, it is necessary to inject contrast agent into a vein in your arm so that organs or blood vessels can be seen clearly in the images. Apart from the needle prick in your arm, this usually causes no discomfort.



 

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After

If you are admitted to hospital, you will return to the ward. If you have been given contrast agent, you must wait 30 minutes. Otherwise, you can go straight home when you are finished. If you have taken sedatives, you should not drive yourself.

The examination results

A radiologist (consultant) will review the images and write a report describing what they show. The report will be sent to the doctor who referred you. The images and report will be stored in our computer system.

Please note

MRI examination and use of contrast agent

If you have severely reduced kidney function, you may experience serious side effects from the use of MRI contrast agents. Special precautions are therefore taken for this patient group. MRI contrast agents may be used after careful medical assessment when necessary to detect medical conditions.

If it is appropriate to give you contrast agent as part of the examination, your kidney function may need to be checked with a blood test in some cases.

Last professionally updated 05.01.2026

Contact

  • Contact the Department of Radiology, Arendal
    Sørlandet sykehus Arendal sett fra luften.

    Sørlandet Hospital Arendal

    Sykehusveien 1

    Sykehusveien 1, 4838 Arendal

    Find your way

    Transport

    ​You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder public transport to find your route:akt.no

    ​You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you should use public transport, and you will have to pay a co-payment. To be reimbursed for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel expense claim form and send it toPatient Travel.

    Practical information

    ​At the hospital pharmacy in Arendal, you can fill prescriptions and buy pharmacy products.
    You will find us on the first floor of the main building, just inside the entrance.
    Open weekdays from 08:30 to 16:00.

    Arendal Hospital Pharmacy

    Is your appointment inconvenient? If you receive your appointment letter digitally on helsenorge.no, you can now send a message directly to the department you are visiting if you need to reschedule. You must be a registered user of helsenorge to access the service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard at: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and they need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient, a relative, or a parent of a sick child who has siblings. We at the hospital will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well cared for.

    Children as relatives


    ​​Visiting hours may vary between departments and locations. Please check with the department where you have an appointment for more information.

    See an overview of the hospital departments

    General visiting hours:

    Arendal:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Flekkefjord:
    14:00–15:00 and 18:00–19:00
    Maternity ward: 17:00–19:00 (quiet time/no visits: 14:00–16:00)

    Kristiansand:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Postnatal ward: 16:00–18:00 every day for the newborn’s healthy siblings.

    ​The patient library in Arendal is located in the basement of the main building. It is self-service and open around the clock. You can borrow books and read newspapers and magazines here.

    Many people wish to bring flowers when visiting a patient in hospital, but due to allergies and the risk of infection, several of our departments are flower-free. If you would like to bring the patient a gift, we would appreciate it if you chose something other than flowers.

    Some patients are also allergic to perfume or perfumed creams. We ask you to take this into consideration.

    Many patients and relatives want to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. This is, of course, permitted, provided you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a few good tips on using social media for patients and relatives:

    • Be considerate of others. You must obtain consent if you want to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while they are in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you may take photos of children or publish photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once the child turns 12, their views must be given considerable weight. Once the child turns 15, they decide for themselves whether they are happy to be photographed and whether the photos may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted photos of you online without your permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not listen, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recordings
    It is not illegal to record conversations in which you participate for private use. However, publishing and sharing recordings requires consent from the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations in which you do not participate is illegal.

    Have you worked in healthcare or received healthcare outside the Nordic countries in the past year?

    This may include, for example, a hospital stay, extensive outpatient treatment or a visit to the dentist. In that case, your GP must test you for bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (such as MRSA).

    Ask your GP to send you the test results before your appointment with us, and bring them with you when you come to the hospital.

    Sometimes we need a room for rest and reflection. We have three such rooms available for you and your relatives. The rooms are open to everyone, regardless of beliefs or faith.

    In Arendal, you will find the hospital’s quiet room/chapel in the basement of the main building. In Kristiansand, the room is on the first floor of the main building, north entrance. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day. In Flekkefjord, the chapel is by the parking lot to the left of the main entrance.

    It is also possible to hold a memorial service in the chapel in the event of a death. Please contact the hospital chaplains to arrange this.

    Eg Church in Kristiansand is open on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 for anyone who would like a quiet place for reflection. Open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends.

    Kiosk
    The kiosk is located in the lobby on the 1st floor.

    The kiosk sells items such as newspapers, magazines, fruit, chocolate, biscuits, ice cream, soft drinks, cards, flowers, some toiletries and various gift items.

    You can also buy buns, chicken wraps, rolls, salads, calzone, panini and hot dogs.

    Opening hours:
    Monday–Friday: 07:00–21:00
    Saturday and Sunday: 09:00–20:00

    Parking spaces at Sørlandet Hospital are subject to a fee Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00. Anyone wishing to park on hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions on the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking with EasyPark (mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking using the EasyPark app, at the parking meter where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Pay online

    Map of parking spaces at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicle registration numbers as vehicles enter and exit the parking garage through the Autopay service. Follow the signs and read the instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter the vehicle’s registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer with your vehicle registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once registered, you will be charged automatically each time you park in the garage.

    During certain periods, for example when there is a lot of snow, it can be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend allowing plenty of time.

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged a parking fee from the first hour.

    Need to charge your car? Not all our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You should therefore not rely on being able to charge your car while you are inside as a patient or visitor. You can see all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map – Norwegian Electric Car Association​

    Blood donors can park for free at the hospital.
    For more information, contact the blood bank.


    Guardians of children (under 18) who are staying in hospital for more than 14 dayscan park for free during the remainder of the child’s stay. This also applies if the child’s stay began at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disabled parking permit entitles you to free parking in designated spaces.
    Contact the Service Desk to register your disabled parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit are exempt from time limits unless otherwise stated on the signs.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Parking is free for expectant mothers outside the Women’s Department at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    Smoking can cause discomfort to others. Thank you for being considerate and helping to keep Sørlandet Hospital a smoke-free environment.

    The Service Desk in Arendal is located right by the main entrance. You can contact them with questions about your appointment at the hospital.

    Opening hours:
    Weekdays: 07:00–21:00.
    Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 09:00–20:00.

    Do you need someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in different life situations. They meet you on your terms, regardless of your faith, beliefs or outlook on life. The hospital chaplains are available around the clock, every day of the week, for patients, relatives and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff for help or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00.

    The hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and belief communities.

    If you need an interpreter, please notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. Interpreter costs are covered by the health service.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use the hospital’s free wireless internet.

    Look for HSO-Gjest on your network and follow the instructions to log in.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area that has not yet been covered.

  • Contact the Department of Radiology, Kristiansand

    Where to go

    The Department of Radiology is on the 1st floor of the hospital’s main building at Eg. Enter through the main entrance and turn right after the café.
    The Nuclear Medicine Unit is on the 2nd floor: Enter through the main entrance and take lift B.

    The Breast Diagnostic Centre (BDS) in Kristiansand is in the Department of Radiology on the 1st floor. Enter through the main entrance and turn right after the café.

    The mammography screening programme (Mammography Programme) in Kristiansand is located at Andreas Kjærsvei 79.

    En by omgitt av trær og en elv

    Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand

    Egsveien 100, Building 10

    Egsveien 100, Building 10, 4615 Kristiansand

    Find your way

    Transport

    You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder public transport to find your route:akt.no

    You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you should use public transport, and you will have to pay a copayment. To be reimbursed for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel expense claim form and send it toPatient Travel.

    Practical information

    At the hospital pharmacy in Kristiansand, you can submit prescriptions and buy pharmacy products.

    You can find us on the 1st floor of the main building, right by the entrance.
    Open weekdays from 08:30 to 16:30.

    Hospital Pharmacy Kristiansand

    Doesn’t the appointment suit you? If you receive your appointment letter digitally via helsenorge.no, you can now send a message directly to the department you are due to visit if you need to reschedule. You must be a registered user of Helsenorge to access this service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and they need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient or a relative, or you may be a parent of a sick child who has siblings. We at the hospital will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well cared for.

    Children as next of kin


    Visiting hours may vary between departments and locations. Please check with the department where you have an appointment for more information.

    See an overview of the hospital departments

    General visiting hours:

    Arendal:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Flekkefjord:
    14:00–15:00 and 18:00–19:00
    Maternity ward: 17:00–19:00 (quiet time/no visitors: 14:00–16:00)

    Kristiansand:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Maternity ward: 16:00–18:00 every day for the newborn’s healthy siblings.

    Most of the wards in Kristiansand have a small collection of books that patients and relatives can borrow. Contact your department for more information and assistance.

    Many people wish to bring flowers when visiting a patient in hospital, but due to allergies and the risk of infection, several of our departments are flower-free. If you would like to bring the patient a gift, we would appreciate it if you chose something other than flowers.

    Some patients are also allergic to perfume or perfumed creams. We ask you to take this into consideration.

    Many patients and relatives wish to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. This is of course permitted, as long as you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a couple of useful tips for patients and relatives using social media:

    • Be considerate of others. You must obtain consent if you want to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you may take photos of children or publish photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is in the child’s best interests. Once the child has turned 12, their views must be given considerable weight. Once the child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they are happy to be photographed and whether the photos may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted photos of you online without your permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not listen, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recordings
    It is not illegal to record conversations in which you take part for private use. However, publishing and sharing recordings requires the consent of the person you spoke with. Secretly recording conversations in which you do not take part is illegal.

    Our hairdresser is located on the third floor of the hospital’s main building and is open to everyone. If needed, the hairdresser can come to the department. The hairdresser also fits wigs. Opening hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 09:00 to 16:00.
    To book an appointment: ​ 94 81 59 01 

    See alsowww.harspesialisten.no​​for booking an appointment.

    ​Have you worked in healthcare or received healthcare outside the Nordic countries during the past year?

    This may include, for example, a hospital admission, extensive outpatient treatment or a visit to the dentist. In that case, your GP must test you for bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (for example, MRSA).

    Ask your GP to send you the test result before your appointment with us and bring it with you when you come to the hospital.

    ​Sometimes we need a room for rest and reflection. We have three such rooms available for you and your relatives. The rooms are open to everyone, regardless of their beliefs or faith.

    In Arendal, the hospital’s quiet room/chapel is located in the basement of the main building. In Kristiansand, the room is on the first floor of the main building, north entrance. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day. In Flekkefjord, the chapel is by the car park to the left of the main entrance.

    A memorial service can also be held in the chapel following a death. To arrange this, contact the hospital chaplains.

    Eg Church in Kristiansand is open on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 for anyone who would like a quiet place for reflection. Open from 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends.

    ​Kiosk
    The kiosk is on the ground floor in the main building’s lobby at Eg.

    Opening hours:
    Monday–Friday: 08:00–20:00
    Saturday and Sunday:​ 09:30–20:00

    The kiosk sells, among other things, newspapers, magazines, fruit, chocolate, biscuits, ice cream, soft drinks, flowers, cards and various gift items.

    Cafeteria
    The “Kilden” cafeteria is located next to the kiosk and has the same opening hours.

    The cafeteria serves, among other things, rolls, baguettes, salads, cakes, hamburgers and hot dogs.

    Parking at Sørlandet Hospital is subject to a fee Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00. Anyone wishing to park on hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions on the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking using EasyPark (mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking using the EasyPark app, at a parking machine where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Register payment on the website

    Map of parking areas at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicle registration numbers as vehicles enter and exit the car park through the Autopay service. Follow the signs and instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io​, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter your vehicle registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer using your vehicle registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once registered, you will pay automatically every time you park in the car park.

    At certain times, for example when there is a lot of snow, it can be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend allowing plenty of time.​

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged a fee from the first hour.

    Need to charge your car? Not all our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You should therefore not count on being able to charge your car while you are inside as a patient or visitor. You can view all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map - Norwegian EV Association​

    Blood donors can park at the hospital free of charge.
    For more information, contact the blood bank.


    Guardians of children (under 18 years old) with a hospital stay of more than 14 days,receive free parking during the child’s subsequent stay. This also applies if the child’s stay begins at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disability parking permit provides free parking in designated spaces
    Contact the Service Desk to register your disability parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disability parking permit are exempt from time limits unless otherwise indicated on signs.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Free parking is available for expectant mothers outside the Women’s Department at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    The Service Desk in Kristiansand is located right by the main entrance. You can contact them with questions about your appointment at the hospital.

    Opening hours:
    Weekdays: 07:30–21:00.
    Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 08:00–21:00.

    Need someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in different life situations. They meet you on your terms, regardless of your faith, beliefs or outlook on life. The hospital chaplains are available around the clock, every day of the week, for patients, relatives and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff for help or call the switchboard on 38 07 30 00.

    The hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and life-stance communities.

    If you need an interpreter, please notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. Interpreter costs are covered by the health service.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use the hospital’s free wireless internet.

    Look for HSO-Gjest in your network list and follow the login instructions.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area that has not yet been covered.

TEST VERSION
Machine-translated copy of sshf.no for testing only. Not official information.