MRI Side Effects

The biggest concern of getting an MRI scan is the possible side effect of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, or NSF for short.  It is a rare disease that causes the excessive growth of connective tissue, known as fibrosis.  It is a relatively new disease, as it was not until 1997 that the first case of NSF was identified.  The scary part is that it was not until 2006 that the first connection between gadolinium contrast agents and NSF was made – 9 years later than the first case.

What Is NSF?

NSF is a condition that causes extra fibrous tissue to grow throughout the body.  This can affect the skin, joints and organs.  As of now, it is deemed an incurable disease and will cause permanent damage to the patient.

Fibrosis can cause the skin to feel hardened and tight.  It will be difficult to stretch and possibly painful as well.  The joints in the body can become severely limited in motion and create pain too.  Fibrosis of the organs can prevent the correct functionality of the organs and can be potentially fatal to the person.

Here is a timetable detailing key events in the past two decades from a report titled “Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium: The Perfect Storm,” by Patrick M. Colletti, published at the American Journal of Roentgenology:

Who Is At Risk?

Of course, NSF is a very serious side effect of an MRI scan.  First and foremost, you do not have to worry about NSF is your MRI scan does not require you to get a gadolinium contrast agent injection.  You may need a gadolinium injection to investigate the blood flow in your body or any analyze any tumors.

Gadolinium based contrast agents have very low concentrations of gadolinium where they should not put a human at risk of developing NSF.  Normally, the body should be able to flush any traces of it out through the kidneys with time.  However, people that suffer from renal failure (kidney failure) are at great risk of side effects.  Because they cannot pump out the contrast dye from their system, the gadolinium will linger and possibly lead to NSF.

The European Medicines Agency has published a report in which they concluded that contrast agents that have a linear molecular structure pose the greatest risk of NSF, while those that have a cyclic molecular structure pose the least.  The types of contrast agents that they included in the report were:

Linear	Cyclic
Omniscan	ProHance
OptiMARK	Gadovist
Magnevist	Dotarem
MultiHance
Primovist
Vasovist

Are You Suffering From NSF?

If you have received a contrast injection and have symptoms that may resemble any MRI side effects listed here, you must consult with a doctor about your concerns.  Nephrogenic System Fibrosis is a very serious matter.  Unfortunately, little is known about it and it is an incurable disease.  It is very likely that you may be entitled to compensation due to medical malpractice if you do become afflicted with NSF.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: contrast mri, gadolinium contrast agents, gadolinium side effects, mri dangers, MRI Side Effects, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, nsf

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Standard magnetic resonating imaging machines are large and have a cavity in its center where your body is placed during the scan.  Typical models have very small cavities, which is problematic for people that suffer from claustrophobia.  The scan also requires you to lay down for a long period of time without moving, while the loud noise of the machine hums during the procedure.  Needless to say, these things can create a very uncomfortable situation, leading to common MRI side effects such as nausea and headaches.

For those that need a scan but are not capable of coping with the technicalities of this process, an alternative you should consider is either an open sided or a stand up MRI.  Both are designed to alleviate and prevent any MRI side effects you may encounter.

An open sided MRI, as its name implies, is open sided.  You will not have to be engulfed in the belly of the machine during the scan.  Instead, you will be sandwiched between the magnets, with one below you and one directly above you.  However, you are no longer enclosed because there is open space to the sides of you – more than enough room to stretch your arms out to the sides and move them freely about.  Also, there are no parts of the apparatus that will not block light out, so you will have the luxury of doing the scan in a well lit environment.

A stand up model actually acts as an open sided MRI too, with the main difference being that you are either standing up or sitting during the process, instead of lying down the whole time.  This can be a double edged sword.  Standing or sitting motionless can be more uncomfortable during the long procedure (although its the perfect alternative if you find lying down to be troublesome.)  It could also cause more pain for older people or those that have sustained injuries to their joints.

However, standing or sitting the whole time will allow for a better look at your body in a “natural” position.  While lying down the whole time, there is minimal stress put on the body.  Because of this, some structural anomalies in your body may go unnoticed because they are only felt while in an upright position as you stand or walk.  These types of MRIs also allow to capture positional MRI scans, which allows for scans in specific body positions that creates pain.

If you have concerns about undergoing a standard MRI scan, it is definitely worth it to consider an Open sided or Stand up scan to avoid any side effects of an MRI.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: mri machines, mri safety, mri scan, MRI Side Effects, open sided MRI, stand up MRI

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While MRI can create very detailed images on their own, it is a common practice to make use of contrast agents.  This is done to enhance the images of organs and soft tissue after an MRI scanning or to make tissue matter that is hard to detect easier to see.  Contrast agents react strongly to magnetic fields better than the hydrogen atoms from the water molecules in your body.  The most common contrast agent uses gadolinium.

Gadolinium is a metallic element (atomic number 64.)  In its natural form, it is a silvery, ductile material.  Gadolinium exhibits very strong paramagnetic properties.  If a metal is paramagnetic, it is not have any magnetization on its own.  However, in an externally applied magnetic field, it has the ability to align its magnetic moments of the molecules parallel to it.  Because of how easily gadolinium is influenced by magnetic fields (relative to other elements), it is widely used as a contrast agent.

As an ion, gadolinium can be highly dangerous to people.  To make it safe to use for medical applications, it undergoes a process known as chelation.  This will create a bond to a gadolinium atom with other non-metallic compounds.  Some contrast agents that have been approved by the FDA include Magnevist, OptiMARK and Vasovist.

As far as safety goes, there is no need for concern in most cases.  For healthy individuals – more specifically, for people with no kidney problems – the concentrations used in the contrast agents are too low to cause any MRI side effects.  On the other hand, those with renal failure and damaged kidneys do have to worry about possible side effects of gadolinium.

If you suffer from renal failure, then the following information is very important for your safety.

The main cause for concern is a disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, or NSF for short.  While the exact cause of NSF is still unclear, it has been shown that gadolinium does promote this disease.  People with a working pair of kidneys are able to eliminate the gadolinium contrast agent from the body in time.  Those with renal failure that cannot pump the gadolinium out of their system are at risk of becoming afflicted with this disease.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis causes fibrosis throughout the body, which is the growth of extra connective tissue in the organs, skin and joints.  As a result, the skin will become hard and feel tight and your joints will be limited and motion and painful to move.  If it affects the internal organs as well, it can be very fatal.

Always consult your radiologist about the risks involved and be sure that any kidney problems you might have are clearly recognized before going through with a contrast agent to prevent the side effects of gadolinium.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: contrast mri, gadolinium, gadolinium side effects, mri scan, MRI Side Effects, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, nsf

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Despite the intricacies and complexities of the technology involved in an MRI machine, it is a safe and painless procedure.  The test is non invasive and the magnetic fields and radio waves used are not strong enough will not cause permanent damage to your body.  As long as you follow the precautions before using an MRI, you will be fine.

However, it is still possible to deal with a few MRI side effects once the procedure is complete.  Because there is no physical harm to the patient, the side effects are, for the most part, psychological due to the nature of the MRI scan (it is not as scary as it might sound.)

Concerns During MRI Scan

To scan your body, you are required to lay down on a patient table, which then slides you into the center of the MRI machine.  The whole procedure can take about a half an hour, in which you will be flat on your back the whole time.  The opening in the chamber where you will be will be quite small.  It is probably no greater than 4 feet in diameter.  For these reasons, the procedure can cause a lot of discomfort for the patient.

Laying on your back for a prolonged period of time might cause some pain in your back.  It could also cause in other areas from lying on an uncomfortable patient table.  These issues are temporary, but it is worth noting for those with chronic pain in certain joints or areas.

During the test, you must lie still in the very small cavity of the MRI machine.  If you have to undergo a scan that requires your whole body to be placed in the center, those with claustrophobia will have a problem going through with the MRI scan.  This is relatively common among people needing an MRI scan, so your radiologist or technician will understand your issue.

Possible solutions are to take medication that will suppress your nerves or just sedate you altogether.  The best option is to use an open MRI machine, which will not encase you and avoid your claustrophobia.  Other than these two options, if your claustrophobia is not very serious, the next best thing is to close your eyes, take deep breaths and imagine you are on a sunny and peaceful beach.

The MRI machine is quite loud during the scan, so the noise can cause problems.  For example, people that suffer from migranes will not be take a liking to the loudness.  Common MRI side effects include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Fatigue

Fortunately, these symptoms are temporary, mostly caused by discomfort.  Again, tell your doctor about any concerns you may have to avoid these side effects and make the process as easy as possible.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: mri machines, mri safety, mri scan, MRI Side Effects

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How Safe Are MRI Machines?

In general, MRI procedures are very safe and present very little threat to anyone inside.  Despite the fact that it uses electromagnetic waves and very strong magnetic fields, the patient should not feel any pain.  However, there are many precautions that must be taken to ensure that there are no MRI side effects.  It is still a very powerful machine, so any carelessness that occurs can lead to very bad scenarios.

MRI Safety

The first cause for concern involves bringing anything metallic near the machine.  The magnetic field will pull it in with great force and cause it to accelerate to high speeds.  As one could imagine, getting in the middle of this would be very dangerous.  Be sure to remove all metal objects, including rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches.  You also do not want to be wearing clothes that might contain metal parts such as pants accessories or decorations, belt buckles and cufflinks.  Braces are usually NOT a problem, contrary to popular belief, but you may want to ask your technician for an official answer.

Secondly, you must be aware of any implants in your body as well.  If it can be manipulated with magnetism, it is possible that it can be jostled around or completely removed from the body.  Anyone that may have sustained an injury and contain traces of metal fragments in them, such as a nail or bullet, should also notify the MRI technician.  They will evaluate how severe a threat that any implants can be.

Implants such as hearing aids and pacemakers might also pose a problem.  If affected, they can be jostled around.  There is a chance that the electromagnetic waves can affect or damage these types of implants.  There are also rare cases where they can be heat up quickly and burn the patient.  Fortunately, these MRI side effects are quite unusual – the most common effect is a distortion of the scanned images.

For the patient, the main cause for concern is to not bring anything that can be manipulated by the strong magnetic fields or radio frequency waves near the MRI coils.  Avoid wearing any metallic objects, or if you must wear accessories such as jewelry, remove them prior to your test.  Always notify the technician and doctor of any objects inside your body to properly assess if it will be problematic.

All in all, the procedure is very safe and painless.  The most common MRI side effects that one might endure are a result of discomfort.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: magnetic fields, mri safety, mri scan, MRI Side Effects, mri technician, radiologist

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What Is An MRI?

MRI, or magnetic resonating imaging, is a non invasive method of medical imaging.  It utilizes very strong magnetic fields to provide a very detailed image of the internal structure of your body.  In existence for over 30 years now, MRI technology has evolved rapidly and has completely transformed the field of medical imaging.

Magnetic resonating imaging is relatively new compared to other medical imaging methods.  The method that is most comparable to MRI scanning is a CT scan, or computed tomography.  Similarly, a CT scan can also create detailed images of the tissue inside your body, and it will do it much quicker than an MRI.  However, it has its drawbacks as well.  A CT scan uses x-rays and radiation to scan your body, which are a potential hazard to your health.  It also cannot take as detailed pictures of the soft tissue in your body.

An MRI machine works by using very powerful magnetic fields to align the hydrogen atoms in all the water molecules that make up your body.  The strength of this magnetic field can be up to 3 teslas, which is about 60,000 times stonger than the earth’s magnetic field at its surface!  A separate radio frequency electromagnetic field is then applied to excite those hydrogen atoms and slightly change their orientation.  When this happens, a signal is created.  Depending on the type of tissue in the body, the atoms will be excited at different rates and create different signals.  These signals are detected to form a very nice picture of the inside of your body.

MRI scanners are very big machines.  They are cylindrical with an opening in the middle of it for the patient to be scanned.  There is a table that the patient lies down on and you have to be pushed into the center.  This opening is relatively small and can be very uncomfortable for “large” individuals or people with claustrophobia.

MRI Safety

Generally speaking, there is little to worry as far as MRI side effects go.  The procedure is safe and does not hurt.  However, there are many precautions that must be taken beforehand to ensure that nothing goes wrong.  And, there are some side effects of an MRI that you should know about, which will be discussed on this site.

Posted in: MRI Side Effects by admin / Tags: contrast mri, magnetic resonating imaging, mri dangers, mri machines, mri safety, mri scan, mri scanners, MRI Side Effects

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