Abdominal MRI
An abdominal MRI gives slice-by-slice images of the liver, the gallbladder and bile ducts, the pancreas and the spleen. It also covers the kidneys and adrenal glands, which sit further back in the retroperitoneum. There is no radiation. MRI shows soft tissue better than any other scan, so doctors choose it when ultrasound or CT has not given a clear answer. At Oberig Clinic abdominal MRI is done on a Siemens Magnetom Vida 3 Tesla scanner. It can scan without long breath-holds.
What an abdominal MRI shows
Most often, MRI is needed to work out what a spot found on ultrasound really is. It may be a cyst, a haemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, an adenoma, a primary liver tumour or a metastasis. The radiologist looks at how the spot appears in different modes and how it takes up contrast. In most cases this gives an answer without a biopsy. MRI also shows cirrhosis and signs of portal hypertension, iron and fat build-up in the liver, and abscesses.
In the pancreas, MRI finds acute and chronic pancreatitis, cysts and their inner structure, and tumours from a few millimetres. In the gallbladder and ducts it shows stones, narrowing, polyps and birth defects. In the kidneys and adrenals: complex cysts, tumours, adrenal adenomas. The radiologist also checks the spleen, lymph nodes, the large vessels (aorta, inferior vena cava, portal vein) and free fluid. For cancer patients, MRI shows if a tumour has spread to nearby organs and vessels. That decides if surgery is possible. It also guides the surgeon's plan.
Scan protocols
The standard protocol covers the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and adrenals. If the pelvic organs also need a look, there is an extended scan of the abdomen, retroperitoneum and pelvis in one session. For the bile and pancreatic ducts the radiologist adds MR cholangiography (MRCP). It shows the ducts without contrast and pinpoints a stuck stone or a narrowing.
The liver has its own programs. LiverLab measures the exact share of fat and iron. It is more precise than any ultrasound and works well for tracking fatty liver treatment. With the liver-specific contrast agent Primovist, lesions of a few millimetres show up, for example before liver surgery. For the small bowel in Crohn's disease we do MR enterography. Before it you drink a special solution that opens up the bowel loops, and inflammation of the bowel wall becomes easy to see. The radiologist picks the protocol from your referral, so the referral should state the clinical question.
Who needs it and when
The referral usually comes from a gastroenterologist, hepatologist, surgeon, oncologist or urologist. Common reasons? A lump in the pancreas or a kidney seen on ultrasound. Jaundice. Widened bile ducts. Raised liver tests or tumour markers. Chronic pancreatitis. Planning for surgery or a transplant. Follow-up after cancer treatment. In cirrhosis, MRI helps catch liver cancer early when ultrasound gives an unclear result.
Another reason is a chance finding. You have an ultrasound or CT for something else, and a 1-2 cm spot turns up in the liver or a kidney. Most of these are harmless, but ultrasound cannot always tell for sure. A contrast MRI settles the question in one scan. It can save months of worry and repeat tests.
Abdominal MRI with contrast
Most abdominal scans use contrast. A gadolinium-based dye goes into a vein, and the scanner captures several phases: arterial, venous and delayed. The way a lesion fills up and washes out lets the radiologist tell a haemangioma from liver cancer, a cyst from a tumour. Contrast is especially important in cancer care and before surgery. LiverLab and MRCP do not need it. If you are over 65, have diabetes or kidney disease, get a creatinine test before a contrast scan. With a kidney filtration rate below 30 ml/min, contrast is not given.
MRI or CT of the abdomen: which is better?
Both are accurate, but they answer different questions. CT is faster. It is better for the bowel, calcium deposits, kidney stones, an acute abdomen and injuries, so in emergencies doctors choose an abdominal CT. MRI is better at telling soft tissues apart: the nature of liver lesions, pancreatic cysts, bile ducts, adrenal glands. There is no radiation, and gadolinium dye causes reactions less often than the iodine dye used in CT.
A note on the stomach: MRI shows the stomach and large bowel only in a limited way. They move and contain air. The stomach lining needs a gastroscopy, the large bowel a colonoscopy or CT colonography. Sometimes you need both scans. CT finds a lesion, MRI tells what it is. That combination often avoids a biopsy.
How to prepare
Preparation starts the evening before. No laxatives or strict diet are needed. The general steps:
- the evening before, have a light dinner by 7 pm, with nothing fatty or fried and no foods that cause gas (beans, cabbage, rye bread, fizzy drinks),
- do not eat for at least 4 hours before the scan, and skip caffeine and cigarettes on the day,
- if you need contrast and are over 65, have diabetes or kidney disease, get a blood creatinine test in advance,
- tell us about a pacemaker, metal implants, clips, braces or fluid in the abdomen (ascites), and bring the device card,
- bring your referral, earlier ultrasound, CT and MRI reports and blood tests.
For MRCP, bring two bananas. The radiographer will ask you to eat them at a set point during the scan. They dim the signal from fluid in the stomach, which can hide the ducts. You can take your regular medicines with a little water, but check this with your doctor first.
What happens during the scan
You lie on your back, and a coil goes over your abdomen. The scanner tracks your breathing, so most series run while you breathe calmly. For a few series the radiographer will ask you to hold your breath for 15-20 seconds. The Magnetom Vida has a wider bore than standard scanners and takes patients up to 200 kg. The scan takes 30-45 minutes, up to an hour with contrast and MRCP. Afterwards you can eat right away and get on with your day. No recovery time. No side effects in most people. Afraid of tight spaces? Tell us in advance. You stay in touch with the radiographer through an intercom and hold a call button the whole time.
How to read your report
The radiologist describes each organ and each lesion: size, edges, signal in different modes and how it takes up contrast. Some common findings and what they usually mean:
| Finding in the report | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Simple liver or kidney cyst | A harmless fluid-filled space, usually no treatment needed |
| Liver haemangioma | A harmless cluster of blood vessels with a typical MRI look, watch and wait |
| Focal nodular hyperplasia | A harmless area of liver tissue, common in women, does not turn into cancer |
| Fatty liver (steatosis) | Extra fat in the liver, LiverLab gives an exact percentage to track treatment |
| Pancreatic cyst | Needs a look at its structure and follow-up of its size over time |
| Adrenal adenoma | A harmless nodule, an endocrinologist checks if it makes hormones |
An MRI report is not a diagnosis on its own. It is the basis for your doctor's decision. The same picture can mean different things in different people, depending on blood tests, symptoms and earlier scans. Bring both the disc and your old images to the consultation. A comparison over time is often what settles it. Lost your old disc? Bring the written report. It still helps.
Common questions
Who cannot have it?
People with a pacemaker. Metal implants, clips and nerve stimulators are checked against the device card. Contrast is ruled out by severe kidney failure. In pregnancy the decision is made together with a gynaecologist.
Can children have an abdominal MRI?
Yes, with a doctor's referral. There is no radiation, so for children MRI is often safer than CT. Kids under 6 may need sedation, so book a visit with a paediatric anaesthetist first.
How often can it be repeated?
Without contrast, as often as needed. With contrast, only when there is a reason. To follow a liver lesion or a pancreatic cyst, usually every 6-12 months.
When will I get the results?
The radiologist's report and a disc with images are ready within 24 hours, except weekends and public holidays. In complex cases two radiologists review the images.
Who explains the report?
Your own doctor, urologist or oncologist, or a gastroenterologist at the clinic, who can build a treatment plan right away.
Abdominal MRI prices
The standard 3 Tesla protocol with the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and adrenals costs UAH 7,380. With contrast the total is UAH 10,125, since contrast enhancement is a separate line at UAH 2,745. The final price also depends on extras you may need, such as MRCP, the pelvis or a special liver program. A liver MRI with LiverLab costs UAH 4,158. All options are in the table.
| Scan (MRI 3 Tesla) | Price |
|---|---|
| Abdomen and retroperitoneum (liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals) | UAH 7,380 |
| Abdomen, retroperitoneum and pelvis | UAH 8,950 |
| Abdomen (liver) with MRCP | UAH 7,465 |
| Liver + LiverLab (fat grading) | UAH 4,158 |
| Liver with Primovist | UAH 8,797 |
| MR enterography with contrast | UAH 8,175 |
| MRCP, 1.5 Tesla | UAH 4,875 |
| Contrast enhancement | UAH 2,745 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic
- A 3 Tesla scanner. Siemens Magnetom Vida with a wide bore, scanning without long breath-holds and dedicated liver programs. The clinic is a Siemens reference centre.
- A second read of every scan. Reports follow the American College of Radiology protocol. The team is led by Taras Matsiievskyi, head of the department, with Iryna Mykytenko and Oleksandr Lysenko.
- Results in 24 hours. You get the report and disc within a day, except weekends and public holidays.
- Treatment at one address. The Gastro Centre, the Liver and Pancreas Surgery Centre, oncology, urology and the lab all work in one clinic.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
Abdominal MRI?
