A 3T MRI scan is more powerful than a normal MRI. It produces more detailed and clearer images. The sternoclavicular joint being an inner and difficult part, a 3T MRI scan is more effective.
Remove any metallic object you are wearing such as earrings and other metallic accessories before the scan and inform about any pregnancy or embedded metallic devices in your body. Also inform the radiologist about any allergies and whether you have any disorder like sickle cell disease, which prevents using contrast material. It would be also helpful to disclose any fears of closed spaces.
This highly powerful scan will detect the following:
Osteoarthritis
Septic arthritis
Osteomyelitis
Congenital anomalies
Benign lesions
Sternoclavicular dislocation
Metastases
Neoplasms
You’ll be required to lie still for maybe a half hour or more on the bed attached to the machine. You need to lie motionless, chest side down when being slid under the cylindrical machine with the magnet. A loop coil device will be put under your chest. Cushions, pillows maybe provided for extra comfort. Depending on the area to be scanned, it takes from 15 minutes to well over an hour for a complete scan. You maybe given Gadolinium if your GFR is above 30.