Almost every part of the body may be studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clear pictures obtained from an MRI often provide physicians with information not available through other diagnostic tests such as x-rays, and in some cases may even eliminate the need for exploratory surgery.

To gather information about various conditions affecting the body, including the gastrointestinal system, physicians may use several types of MRI scanners including:

• Standard MRI. This scanner resembles a long cylinder with a narrow tube in the center. A patient lies on a moveable bed and the whole body is inserted inside the tube. Although this machine may be confining for some people, it produces the clearest images.
  
  
• Short-bore MRI. This scanner is similar to the standard, except only half the size. Depending on which areas of the body are being tested, patients position their bodies so that the part being scanned lies within the tube. People that experience anxiety in enclosed spaces may prefer this scanner.
  
  
• Open MRI. This scanner resembles a bagel sliced in half and is a good option for obese or claustrophobic patients because there is additional room inside the machine. However, the images it produces are not as detailed as those of the other two MRI scanners.