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MRI Safety

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Book cover Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe diagnostic tool and over 500 million diagnostic studies have been performed safely up to now. However, there have been at least 15 published cases of patient deaths associated with MRI scanning; 10 cases with implanted pacemakers [1–5], 2 patients with an insulin pump [3], 1 patient with a neuro-stimulator, 1 patient with an aneurysm clip [6], and 1 child killed by an oxygen tank [7]. Additionally, hundreds of severe burns [8] or injuries due to ferromagnetic projectiles have also been reported. The loud noises (up to 120 dBA) induced by the fast switching gradient fields make ear protections mandatory for all patient. The sources of all these risks are the electromagnetic fields of the MRI scanner.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

    Roger Luechinger Ph.D.

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  1. Roger Luechinger Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Roger Luechinger Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, S. First Ave. 2160, Maywood, 60153, Illinois, USA

    Mushabbar A. Syed

  2. Magnetic Resonance Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, United Kingdom

    Raad H. Mohiaddin

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London

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Luechinger, R. (2012). MRI Safety. In: Syed, M., Mohiaddin, R. (eds) Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Congenital Heart Disease. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4267-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4267-6_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4266-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4267-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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