MRI machine
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine transmits radio waves through an extremely powerful magnetic field to take pictures of a person's anatomy, much the like the function of an X-ray but without the radiation concerns.
Identification
Metal implants do not negate the ability to undergo an MRI screening unless the patient has a pacemaker, cochlear hearing implant or metal clips in the brain, which are usually found in people who have had an aneurysm.
Considerations
Some types of metal in the body, such as metal rods in the spine, shrapnel and dental fillings, do not preclude a patient from undergoing an MRI, but they may distort the final image.
Prevention/Solution
Even for metal implants or devices in the body generally considered safe for an MRI, the patient should still inform her doctor of the existence of metal material in the body.
Tips
Some surgeries that require the doctor to open the chest cavity may leave metallic wires in the body. Patients who are uncertain of the presence of metal in their body can get an X-ray to determine this.
Effects
An MRI machine causes some metallic objects, such as drug patches that contain aluminum, to heat up during the scanning, potentially leaving serious burns on the patient.
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