Claustrophobia and MRI machines: what to know

An MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images. During a breast MRI, you lie on your stomach on a special table while the breast rests in an opening designed for imaging. The table moves into the scanner, which is shaped like a short tunnel. You may hear repeated thumping or tapping sounds, and you need to stay still so the images are clear.

Claustrophobia can bring a racing heartbeat, sweating, trembling, tightness in the chest, or an urge to leave. These sensations can be frightening, but they do not mean the scan is harming you. You can usually communicate with the technologist throughout the appointment, and the team can stop the scan if you feel unable to continue.

Tell the imaging centre about your claustrophobia when the appointment is arranged, and mention any previous difficulty with scans. Ask what type of scanner is available, whether a support person can accompany you to the department, and how the team will communicate with you during the examination.

On the day, wear clothing without metal and follow the centre's instructions about food, drink, medicines, and contrast. Practise slow breathing before you enter the scanner. Some people find it helpful to close their eyes before the table moves, listen to music if offered, or focus on a familiar mental image. If anxiety may prevent you from lying still, ask the clinician arranging the scan whether a prescribed calming medicine is suitable; do not take someone else's medicine or drive after a sedating medicine.

A different scanner design may not suit every examination, so the radiology team should decide whether an alternative is technically appropriate. A mammogram and a Breast MRI answer different clinical questions; one should not be substituted for the other without guidance.

Contact the clinician who ordered the MRI if panic has made you avoid previous scans, you cannot lie flat or still, or you have questions about contrast, implants, metal fragments, or other medical devices. The imaging team may adjust the appointment plan or explain another suitable option. Seek urgent medical help for severe chest pain, fainting, or trouble breathing that continues after you leave the scanner; do not assume these symptoms are only claustrophobia.

Ask why the MRI is recommended, what information it is intended to provide, and whether contrast is planned. You can also ask how to prepare, what will happen if anxiety becomes overwhelming, and whether you need someone to accompany you home if medicine is prescribed.