Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a scan of your body that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy. In many cases an MRI provides information that cannot be obtained from an x-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan.

MRI of the abdomen may be used for problems or tumors in the abdominal organs and tissues. In some cases MRI can tell if a tumor is noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Check lower abdominal and pelvic organs for tumors, bleeding, or problems present since birth (congenital abnormalities).