Breast Tissue Expanders and MRI Safety Quiz

Guidelines for Breast Tissue Expanders and Preventing Excessive Heating and Burns in MRI Procedures

Breast tissue expanders and mammary implants are used for various procedures, including breast reconstruction and cosmetic augmentation.

Different breast tissue expanders have different injection ports, with some containing magnetic ports that may cause discomfort or artifacts during MRI procedures.

A recent investigation found that the Integra Breast Tissue Expander with a remote port can safely undergo MRI at 3-Tesla or less with the conditions used for the evaluation.

MR imaging is generally safe, but certain conductive materials and objects can cause excessive heating and burns during MRI procedures.

Over a ten-year period, 419 thermal injuries associated with MRI were reported in the US, some caused by skin-to-skin contact points or direct contact with transmit body radiofrequency coils.

To prevent excessive heating and burns, patients should change into a gown or non-metallic attire, and insulation material should be used to prevent skin-to-skin contact points.

Insulating material should also be placed between the patient's skin and the transmit RF coil used for the MR procedure.

Electrically conductive devices, equipment, and accessories should be thoroughly tested and determined to be safe or otherwise acceptable for MR procedures.

Conductive materials should be positioned to prevent the formation of conductive loops and cross points, and should not be placed across external metallic prostheses.

Patients should not wear clothing items with metal-based fibers during MR procedures, and should be closely monitored for any sensations of heating or unusual sensations.

Adopting and regularly practicing these guidelines will ensure patient safety, especially as more conductive materials and electronically-activated devices are used in association with MR procedures.

MRI Safety for Patients with Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

• Cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial devices for patients with heart conditions.
• MR procedures are considered a relative contraindication for patients with these devices due to potential risks.
• MR conditional cardiac pacing systems now exist that were specifically designed to provide a high margin of safety for patients referred for MR procedures.
• Potential problems with MR procedures on cardiac pacemakers and ICDs vary depending on several factors, including the type of device and the imaging conditions used for the procedure.
• Older versions of these devices have been shown to be more susceptible to harmful effects from MR imaging.
• Patients with ICDs are typically not allowed to undergo MR examinations due to the inherent risks related to the presence of conductive materials.
• Several recent studies have described patients with ICDs examined by MR imaging without serious problems.
• Patients with cardiac pacemakers have undergone monitored MR procedures without serious adverse events.
• Guidelines have been established for performing MR procedures in non-pacemaker dependent patients with these devices.
• Magnetic field interactions are an important safety aspect of the MR environment on cardiac pacemakers and ICDs.
• MR conditional cardiac pacing systems and implantable cardioverter defibrillators are now available for patients referred for MR examinations.
• Magnetic field-related translational attraction was substantially different comparing the long-bore and short-bore MR systems.

MRI Safety for Patients with Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

• Cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial devices for patients with heart conditions.
• MR procedures are considered a relative contraindication for patients with these devices due to potential risks.
• MR conditional cardiac pacing systems now exist that were specifically designed to provide a high margin of safety for patients referred for MR procedures.
• Potential problems with MR procedures on cardiac pacemakers and ICDs vary depending on several factors, including the type of device and the imaging conditions used for the procedure.
• Older versions of these devices have been shown to be more susceptible to harmful effects from MR imaging.
• Patients with ICDs are typically not allowed to undergo MR examinations due to the inherent risks related to the presence of conductive materials.
• Several recent studies have described patients with ICDs examined by MR imaging without serious problems.
• Patients with cardiac pacemakers have undergone monitored MR procedures without serious adverse events.
• Guidelines have been established for performing MR procedures in non-pacemaker dependent patients with these devices.
• Magnetic field interactions are an important safety aspect of the MR environment on cardiac pacemakers and ICDs.
• MR conditional cardiac pacing systems and implantable cardioverter defibrillators are now available for patients referred for MR examinations.
• Magnetic field-related translational attraction was substantially different comparing the long-bore and short-bore MR systems.