Who Should Avoid MRI?

MRI is a safe diagnostic procedure compared to others.

It is non-invasive, unlike biopsies, arthroscopies, laparoscopies, or endoscopies.

It also avoids radiation used in X-rays, CT, and PET scans.

However, some cases require avoiding MRI or taking precautions. Learn more here!

Overview of MRI Safety 

Although MRI is a safe process, you need to understand that it involves the use of powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of your body tissues, so you cannot pursue the scan in certain cases. 

Also, you need to remember the semi-enclosed MRI machine may trigger claustrophobia and anxiety during the scan, so you must always consult your doctor before your scan schedule and get all your doubts about the scan cleared. Hereby, your doctor may even prescribe sedatives or medication. 

While diagnosing deeper tissues, the scan may even last up to one hour or more, making it tiring and overwhelming for many. Hence, you inevitably have to resort to necessary precautions before the test. 

Who Should Avoid MRI?

Here’s a list of people who need to avoid pursuing an MRI scan, as mentioned by medical experts most of the time! 

1. Individuals with Metal Implants

If you have any kind of metallic implant in your body, such as a pacemaker, intravenous defibrillator, cochlear ear implants, aneurysm clips, metallic plates for the spinal cord, or metallic dental fillings, you should avoid an MRI scan. This is because metallic objects and magnetic fields typically do not mix well, and the powerful magnetic fields can move, heat up, or cause malfunction in the metallic implant, causing harm to the patient.     

2. Pregnant Women 

Even though the use of MRI for pregnant women is a debatable subject in medical academia, in most cases, doctors recommend avoiding it, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy, i.e., the first 13 weeks. Indeed, this particular time period is the most crucial part of fetal development and most doctors prefer to err on the side of caution.  

3. Patients with Kidney Conditions 

MRI scans often involve using a contrast agent to fetch clear and precise images of the complex body tissues and patients with kidney conditions need to avoid such MRIs. It’s because the contrast dye can be harmful to the reduced kidney functionality, further causing a condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). The condition is rare but quite serious! So, if you have a history of impaired kidney or other renal diseases, your doctor may have to assess whether or not the contrast will be safe for your body.  

4. People with Tattoos and Piercings

While certain tattoo inks contain some amount of metallic traces, medical experts ask people with tattoos to avoid getting an MRI as it may cause a burning sensation and irritation in the skin during the scan. Such a case is rarely seen but it’s advisory to inform the MRI technologist beforehand if you have a tattoo. The same is the case with piercings and other jewellery on your body. Your MRI technologist would mostly ask you to remove them before the scan to avoid complications.     

Can You Still Have An MRI with Precautions? 

In a few cases, the aforementioned list of people can still pursue an MRI with precautions. Modern pacemakers and orthopaedic hardware are MRI-compatible and in confirmation from your doctor on the kind of implant you have, you can pursue an MRI scan. In the case of cochlear ear implants, you may even have the option of opening it out before entering the scan room. 

If you have a kidney issue, your doctor would typically recommend an MRI without contrast or suggest a different contrast agent for safety purposes. Moreover, if you have a tattoo that doesn’t endorse darker inks or if the tattoo is too tiny in size and nowhere near the area of examination, the MRI technologist may give you a green signal.     

How to Know If An MRI Is Safe for You? 

The best way to determine if an MRI is safe for you is to ask your healthcare provider. They are the ones who can accurately assess your medical history, physical symptoms, and overall health condition, thereby providing you with the most viable solution. Make sure you discuss recent surgeries, chronic health conditions of the past, the presence of medical implants, tattoos, or piercings in your body, history of claustrophobia or panic attacks, and so forth, if any!  

Alternatives to MRI Scan

In circumstances where an MRI scan is not suitable at all, your doctor may propose alternative diagnostic tests as follows! 

1. An Ultrasound 

If you have to avoid an MRI due to pregnancy issues or kidney conditions, your doctor may recommend another safe, non-invasive, radiation-free diagnostic method, called Ultrasound or ultrasonography. 

2. A CT Scan 

If you have a metallic implant in your body and cannot get an MRI scan, your doctor is likely to suggest a CT scan. No magnetic field is involved in this process, yet it provides more detailed images of your internal body than an ultrasound. 

3. An X-Ray 

If the diagnosis is meant for your bones or lungs, and you cannot get an MRI scan due to any of the reasons mentioned above, the doctor may recommend the most easily available alternative, which is an X-ray scan. 

Conclusion: 

No doubt, MRI is one of the most powerful technologies when it comes to early medical intervention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. However, it’s salient for you, as the receiver, to know when and how to use this scan safely and for that, the best possible solution is to rely on your doctors, clear your doubts from them, learn about the procedure and how to prepare for it, and further follow all the recommendations and instructions. 
If your doctor prescribes an MRI scan in Chandigarh, and you’re sceptical of its safety, feel free to hit www.mrichandigarh.com and book a scan from either of the top NABL-accredited labs in the city. All the MRI centres listed on this platform are verified on their top-notch infrastructure and stringent safety protocols. 

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