ECR 2013 Rec: The incidence of biological effects from 3.0 Tesla (T) MRI compared to 1.5 T: an observational study in 911 consecutive outpatients #SS113 #B0105
B-0105 The incidence of biological effects from 3.0 Tesla (T) MRI compared to 1.5 T: an observational study in 911 consecutive outpatients
F. Alghamdi, P. Bertrand, L. Barantin, M.A. Lauvin, X. Cazals, F. Domengie, R. Bibi, D. Herbreteau, J.-P. Cottier | Thursday, March 7, 10:30 – 12:00 / Room L/M
Purpose: To compare the acute biological effects of a 3.0 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to 1.5 T MRI
Methods and Materials: After MRI examination, 911 patients (449 with 3.0 T MRI and 462 with 1.5 T MRI) were presented with a verbal rating scale questionnaire consisting of 11 symptoms related to MRI examination. Chi-square tests were used to assess the relationship between the strength of the magnetic field (MF) and the incidence of the symptoms. A P value of <.05 was considered significant.
Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between the strength of the MF and the incidence of the symptoms related to static MF exposure, such as vertigo (P = .13), nausea (P = .35), headache (P = .21), and a metallic taste (P = .64). A warm feeling induced by radiofrequency (RF) was significantly higher in the 3.0 T MRI (P <.0001) with a significant correlation between the mean specific energy absorption rate (SAR) and a warm feeling in the 3.0 T MRI (P <.0001). Numbness/tingling related to the gradient MF was significantly higher in the 3.0 T MRI (P = .027).
Conclusion: The thermal effect induced by the RF and the numbness/tingling induced by the gradient field were significantly higher in the 3.0 T MRI than in the 1.5 T MRI. There was no statistically significant difference between the symptoms related to static MF exposure from the 3.0 T MRI and 1.5 T MRI.
