NEWisconsin MRI Center: MR Safety


	Metal Objects

	When preparing for your scan, it is important to take safety precautions. Specifically, remember to remove all metal objects. Most metal removable items are not compatible with MRI scanning. Most surgically implanted metal objects are ok to be scanned, although we do need to know about them in advance as we screen for and document every metal implant for your safety.
	Before your scan, a technologist will talk with you in a private area and give you a locker to store your personal belongings. You will need to remove any metallic objects because they can both interfere with the MR images and could lead to injury if brought within the magnetic field. You may be asked to remove glasses, hairpins, clothing with metal zippers, hooks or snaps, non-permanent dentures, hearing aids, and some types of prosthetic devices. It's best to leave jewelry at home; however, we do provide locked areas to store your belongings. Below is a listing of many of the common metal implants and their MR compatibility. If you have questions regarding other metals, please email us at information@newmri.com and we will answer your question and possibly include it in our list.

	Scroll to a selected topic and then click to go to its section Aneurysm Clips - Most experts agree that patients who have had surgery for a brain aneurysm should never have an MR study. The clips used for brain aneurysms (even modern clips) may react to the magnetic pull. Other aneurysm clips are ok to be scanned, just not the ones in the brain. Back to Top Back Brace - This must be taken off prior to the MR scan. Back to Top Cardiac Bypass Surgery - Sometimes cardiac pacing wires are left in place after heart bypass surgery. It is very important for us to know if these wires are present because they can cause you injury if certain types of MRI scans are being done. Pacing wire presence can be determined by having a recent chest x-ray reviewed. When you pre-register let us know if you’ve had heart surgery, and you will be informed if a chest x-ray review is needed. Back to Top Contact Lenses - It is okay to wear contact lenses if you can lie comfortably with your eyes closed. Back to Top Dental Work - This may cause artifact, but is safe for scanning. However, if you have an unusual amount of dental hardware and we are doing a scan of the head some of the pictures may be affected. Dentures may need to be taken out for certain studies and you will be provided with a cup to put them in. Caps, crowns, pins, permanent wires, etc. can be scanned with no problem. Back to Top Eye and Ear Surgeries - If you have had any eye or ear surgery, please notify the pre-registration secretary at the MRI Center. There are certain eye/ear surgeries in which a metal implant is used and may cause harm to the patient, although most are okay. We may need to get the operative report or talk to the surgeon's office. In some cases, an X-ray can identify metal implants if there is a question about this. Back to Top Eye Shadow - Some eye makeup has a metallic base and may cause your eyelids to flutter. Therefore, if you are having a study done of your head, please remove all eye makeup before coming to the MRI Center. Back to Top Facial Reconstruction - Any facial reconstruction, especially near the eyes, needs to be followed up on by one of our staff. We may need to get an operative report or a skull x-ray to verify the location of any implants or wires. Back to Top Groshong Catheter - This is usually okay to scan; however, some of them have a small metal clip, which needs to be removed prior to the scan. Back to Top Halo - This is a type of neck immobilizer, which may or may not be MR compatible, so it is important to tell the scheduler and/or pre-registration secretary if you are in a halo. Back to Top Hearing Aids - These must be taken off during all scanning procedures. Back to Top Heart Valves - Some heart valves are okay to scan; but some are not. Sometimes cardiac pacing wires are left in place after heart bypass surgery. It is very important for us to know if these wires are present because they can cause you injury if certain types of MRI scans are being done. Pacing wire presence can be determined by having a recent chest x-ray reviewed. When you pre-register let us know if you’ve had heart surgery, and you will be informed if a chest x-ray review is needed. Back to Top Hernia Mesh - This is okay and will not cause you any harm, even if it is metal. Back to Top Embedded Wires/Stimulators/Batteries - These are put in for muscle problems, among other things. They can NEVER be scanned and could cause bodily harm. Back to Top Implanted Electrodes, Shunts, Pumps, or Other Electrical Devices - Some of these are okay and some are not. Please be sure to tell the pre-registration secretary if you have one of these and we will confirm whether it is safe for you to have the scan. Back to Top Intrauterine Device (IUD) - Currently there are no known contraindications for an IUD. Back to Top Joint Replacement - If you have a hip replacement, knee replacement, etc., this is usually okay to scan. If the joint replaced is the joint being scanned, we do need the operative report because the images may not be optimal if there is a metal implant. However, it will not harm you to be scanned. Back to Top Leg Brace or Prosthesis - These need to be taken off prior to the MR study. Back to Top Lens Implants - Orbital lens implants are not a problem. Back to Top Limb Replacement - If a patient has a removable prosthetic device, it will need to be removed during the scan since most of them have metal components. If it is permanent, it will not cause you harm, however we should still be made aware of it. Back to Top Medication Patches - Medication patches, such as nitroglycerin, birth control, or nicotine patches must be removed prior to scanning because some of them have a small metal wire inside and could cause injury. Back to Top Nitroglycerin Patch - We can NEVER scan a patient with a nitroglycerin patch. It must be removed prior to scanning because they have a small metal wire inside and could cause injury. Back to Top Orbital Implants - Lens implants from cataract surgery are okay. Artificial eyes may need to be taken out prior to your study if they are removable. Please inform the pre-registrar if you have an orbital implant when reviewing the screening questions. Back to Top Pacemaker - We can NEVER scan a patient with a pacemaker. The magnetic field would severely impair the function of the pacemaker. If you have a cardiac pacemaker, we will need to cancel your MR study and you should follow up with your doctor to find an alternative diagnostic study. Back to Top Penile Implants - Some penile implants may have metal components and we will need to find out the manufacturer and serial number of the implant. This can most often be obtained from the operative report. Back to Top Pins/Screws/Wires - These metals, if surgically implanted because of broken bones, are generally no problem. However, if the metal wire/pin, etc. is put in place for any other reason, these should be reviewed on an individual basis. Most of these are okay to scan; however, some of them may cause problems for you so it is important to notify the pre-registration secretary of ANY metal implants. Back to Top Pregnancy/Breast-feeding - We normally do not scan pregnant women. If you think you might be pregnant, you must have a negative pregnancy test done or wait until your menstrual period before we can perform the scan. If you are breast-feeding, an unenhanced routine MRI/MRA is no problem. HOWEVER, if there is the possibility of your scan being enhanced, you should plan on bottle-feeding the baby for 48 hours after the scan until the contrast material has passed through your system. There are no known side effects; but breast-feeding is not recommended for 48 hours following enhancement. Back to Top Previous Metal in the Eyes - If you have EVER had any metal chips or fragments in your eyes from welding, grinding, or any accidents of any sort, an eye x-ray must be taken prior to the study. Even if the metal fragment was taken out, or came out on its own, or if it occurred a long time ago, an x-ray is the only way to confirm that there are no fragments remaining. This is important because if there are any small fragments in the eye, it could potentially damage the eyes. We will arrange these orbital x-rays prior to your scan. If you have done welding or grinding but never got metal in your eyes, you do not need the eye x-ray. If there is ever any question about this, the x-rays should be taken. Back to Top Rings - Rings are okay to keep on if they are difficult to get off. They will not be affected by the magnetic field and will not cause the patient any harm during the scan. One exception might be if we are scanning a hand or wrist...having metal near the area we are scanning may cause artifact or interference in the imaging. Earrings will need to be taken out, as will nose rings, lip rings, tongue studs, and other body piercings, etc. (If you do not remove them, the magnet may remove it for you!) Back to Top Rods in the Back - These may cause artifact; but will not cause you harm. Depending on how big the rods are and the area we are scanning, this may/may not affect the results of your study. Back to Top Shrapnel - Shrapnel may present a problem. It is important to review each individual case with our staff. Depending on the location of the shrapnel, you may or may not be able to be scanned. Back to Top Tubal Ligation - Clips are no problem. Back to Top Tubes in the Ears - Tubes in ears (for recurrent infections) are okay. Back to Top Vasectomy - Any related clips are no problem. Back to Top Vena Cava Umbrella - We need to review an operative report regarding this implant. Some of these are not MR compatible. Back to Top Wires in the Chest from Heart Surgery - Although sternal wires are no problem whatsoever during an MRI scan, sometimes cardiac pacing wires are left in place after heart bypass surgery. It is very important for us to know if these wires are present because they can cause you injury if certain types of MRI scans are being done. Pacing wire presence can be determined by having a recent chest x-ray reviewed. When you pre-register let us know if you’ve had heart surgery, and you will be informed if a chest x-ray review is needed. Back to Top

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