The use of pre-existing imaging for routine MRI safety screening

Thorough MRI safety screening, to identify any internal implants or foreign bodies (FB), is essential for anyone entering the MRI environment. Screening is used to determine the presence of any MRI contraindications and allow the MRI status of any medical implants to be investigated so they can be scanned under the correct conditions.

In 2018, one in 25 people in the UK had at least one medical implant, ranging from knee replacements to cardiac pacemakers, highlighting the prevalence of medically implanted devices in the general population. Even the most common or low risk implants require an assessment before proceeding with an MRI for positioning or image quality purposes, or to select the most appropriate field strength to scan at. The implications for introducing unknown or undeclared implants or FBs into the MRI environment, without proper investigation or assessment, include the movement or dislodgement of metallic objects, mechanical failure or malfunction of active devices, burns, heating or image artefacts.

To access the full article as a pdf please sign up to our newsletter.

The content on this page is provided by the individuals concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.