Information for patients
If you are a patient reading this and have a concern about an MRI scan you are scheduled to attend, we strongly recommend you contact the site where your scan is due to take place, you may also wish to refer to our ‘Information for Patients’ section. Please note local variations to the policies detailed on this website may apply, therefore please contact the hospital where your appointment is scheduled for clarification.
Disclaimer (MUST READ)
The MRI safety information contained within this webpage is intended for use by staff from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) and associated health boards, namely: NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries & Galloway, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Golden Jubilee, and NHS Lanarkshire. Only staff from these health boards are approved to use this information and local variations to the policies detailed may apply. Non-approved users i.e. patients and staff from health boards other than those listed above, or staff from private medical organisations use this information at their own risk. We, NHS GGC, accept no responsibility for patient injury or adverse outcomes that may occur as a consequence of the information contained herein. If you have any questions regarding this disclaimer, please contact the NHS GGC MRI physics team on: ggc.MRSafetyExpert@nhs.scot.
Clinical Screening Protocol
The procedure to follow with regard to a patient with suspected metallic orbital foreign bodies involves asking them if they have had an ocular injury. If they sustained an ocular injury, they are asked whether they had a medical examination at the time of the injury and whether they were told by the examining doctor, “It’s all out.” If they were told their ophthalmologic examination was normal, and/or if they were told the foreign body was removed entirely at the time of the injury, then they can proceed to MR imaging.
If the screening radiographer has reason to doubt the quality of the patient as a historian they may deem it necessary to apply the radiographic screening protocol
Radiographic Screening Protocol
Based on the results of the clinical screening protocol, patients are screened radiographically if they sustained an ocular injury related to a metallic foreign object and they were told that the eye examination revealed that the foreign body was not removed. In such a case, the MRI examination is postponed and the patient is referred for screening radiography.
If the patient thinks it is possible that metal may have entered their eye, but they never had a subsequent eye examination, then again they must undergo screening radiography.
Only if the screening radiography shows no foreign body can the patient proceed to MRI.
These policies are based on the work of Seidenwurm et al (Am J Neuroradiol 2000; 21: 426) and also Frank Shellock (www.mrisafety.com)
Adolescents and orbital foreign bodies
Special precautions may be necessary for screening adolescents prior to MR, as when accompanied by a parent they may not tell the truth. Accordingly, it is recommended that adolescents be provided with additional screening that includes private counselling about the hazards associated with the MR environment. This will include orbital foreign bodies but also possible pregnancy.