Magnetic resonance imaging of the foot
Foot MRI in Casablanca
Foot MRI examines, without X-rays, the bones from the heel bone (calcaneus) to the toes, the joints, the tendons, the plantar aponeurosis (the fibrous band stretched under the sole) and the soft tissues. It helps explain persistent pain in the heel, the sole or the forefoot, look for a stress fracture, or assess a bone infection in people with diabetes.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
Foot MRI usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes a little longer with an injection.
Report turnaround
Report within 48 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE SIGNA Prime 1.5 T
When is this exam needed?
- Persistent pain under the heel suggesting plantar aponeurositis (often called plantar fasciitis).
- Pain between two toes with numbness, which may correspond to a Morton's neuroma (a thickening of a nerve).
- Pain in a metatarsal after an increase in walking or running, raising the possibility of a stress fracture.
- A wound or redness of the foot in a person with diabetes, when a bone infection (osteomyelitis) is suspected.
- Pain under the base of a toe suggesting a plantar plate injury (a structure that stabilizes the toe).
- A mass in the foot, or arthritis affecting the toe joints.
How the exam is done
Barefoot and without any metal objects, you lie on your back, feet first into the machine. The foot is placed in a suitable coil, the sole often resting against a wedge, or laid flat, depending on the area to be examined. For the forefoot, some teams prefer to position you lying on your stomach.
During the sequences, the machine makes loud sounds: keep the headphones on and stay relaxed. Your toes must stay still, even if your feet feel cold. If an injection is planned, it is given during the exam, into a vein in the arm. At the end, you can put your shoes back on and walk normally.
Preparation
- If you have a wound, let the center know: some silver dressings must be removed before the exam.
- If you have diabetes, bring your latest test results, including kidney function if an injection is planned.
- Locate the exact painful area (heel, sole, space between two toes) so you can show it to the radiographer.
Fasting
No need to fast for a foot MRI; if you have diabetes, keep your usual meals and treatments.
Contrast injection
Gadolinium, injected into a vein in the arm, is often useful to look for an infection in people with diabetes or to study a mass. For plantar fasciitis or a stress fracture, it is usually not necessary.
Contraindications and precautions
- Pacemaker or defibrillator: the exam is possible only for certain MRI-compatible models, after checking.
- Neurostimulator, cochlear implant, implanted pump or old clip on a blood vessel.
- Metal fragment, especially in an eye.
- Dressing containing metal, screws or staples in the foot: please tell us.
- Insulin pump or glucose sensor (such as FreeStyle Libre): to be removed before the exam. Bring what you need to replace it or put it back afterwards.
- Current or possible pregnancy: please tell us. MRI is performed only if it is necessary, preferably after the first trimester, and without gadolinium unless absolutely necessary.
- Breastfeeding: please tell us. It is generally not necessary to stop breastfeeding after a gadolinium injection.
- Severe kidney failure (more common with long-standing diabetes): tell us before any injection.
- Tattoos, permanent makeup, fear of enclosed spaces.
Documents to bring
- Prescription specifying the foot concerned (right or left).
- X-rays of the foot, especially weight-bearing views, and any ultrasound.
- Recent kidney function test (creatinine) if an injection is planned, especially if you have diabetes.
- List of your medications, including your diabetes treatment.
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card.
Price and insurance coverage
The price of a foot MRI varies depending on the side and the part of the foot examined, and on the gadolinium injection, which is often useful for an infection in people with diabetes.
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MRI necessary for heel pain?
Not always. Plantar aponeurositis is most often recognized during the clinical examination, sometimes completed by an X-ray or an ultrasound. MRI is requested when the pain does not respond to treatment, when there is doubt about a stress fracture of the heel bone, or before a specific procedure.
How does MRI help with a diabetic foot?
In people with diabetes, a wound can sometimes reach the bone. MRI can show inflammation or infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) and its extent, which helps the care team choose the treatment. The results are always interpreted together with the appearance of the wound and blood tests.
Can a Morton's neuroma be seen on MRI?
Yes, MRI can show the thickening of the nerve between two metatarsal heads, most often between the third and fourth toes. Ultrasound is also used for this diagnosis. Point out the exact painful space to the radiographer so the images are centered in the right place.
Do I need an MRI of both feet?
Most often, only one foot is examined, the one indicated on the prescription. Examining both sides is reserved for certain situations, such as a rheumatic disease affecting both feet. Check that the prescription clearly states the side, because the setup is designed for one foot at a time.
Foot MRI in Casablanca: how much does it cost?
The price of a foot MRI varies depending on the side and the part of the foot examined, and on the gadolinium injection, which is often useful for an infection in people with diabetes. The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.