I went for an MRI today and during the whole procedure (half hour long approx.) felt uncomfortable heat in the area of the scan. (abdominal) I informed the technician who said that people's bodies respond differently and it was no big deal. It concerns me that the magnetic imaging may have been heating up my insides. Anyone else ever encounter this?
2007-12-11 08:06:53 · 7 answers · asked by happy 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Yes body heating is one of the possible hazards of MRi, seldom does it cause any real problem but it can actually cause burns. Usually it occurs when the patient gives a weight that is too far off for the machine to calculate the correct settings. The heat is caused by the energy absorbed from the radio frequency use to give energy to your hydrogen protons. There is a longer better explanation at the link that I have included below.
Best way to keep heating low is to make sure the tech known your true weight, although how the body is shaped can have an effect also; men especially can have chicken legs and arms but a larger chest and tummy; causing the weight in the scan area to be greater than the machine plans for.
2007-12-12 18:56:28 · answer #1 · answered by Tammy B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that Jamie wasn't paying a whole lot of attention in school.
Radiation will cause something to heat up, just like a microwave. But an MRI machine doesn't use radiation. It uses magnetic energy. That's what the "M" stands for - the whole acronym is Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The machine uses magnetic fields to help generate an image of your body. It's possible that it may have caused some heating, but it did NOT involve radiation.
2007-12-11 08:16:53 · answer #2 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you have contrast? I know when I had a CT scan the contrast caused a warming sensation. Granted the types of contrast used are different but perhaps there could be something in common between them.
Oh and the person that said an MRI does not use radiation is wrong. It does use radiation but it is non-ionizing radiation.
2007-12-11 08:26:46 · answer #3 · answered by Brian A 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have had MRI's of my brain, lumbar spine x 2 and cervical spine. I have never felt that. I am claustrophobic so I tune in to everything!! Unfortunately. I have titanium hips/femur pegs and rods/screws in my lumbar spine. If there were heat associated with this test it would stand to reason that this metal would heat up. I think? I'm sorry you felt this discomfort during this testing. I sure hope the results were worth your discomfort. I hope you have a Blessed And Merry Christmas.
2007-12-11 08:19:23 · answer #4 · answered by tampagramma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, today. After they injected contrast. The first 30 minutes did not feel heat. I notified tech upon completion. I was told, probably just from laying in that position for so long. I knew better than that. OH well trusting the Lord that all is well. Still having faith for a creative miracle rather than another surgery.
2013-11-20 15:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by Gayla Wingate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it can
it work in the same principle of a microwave oven
it uses radiation to activate the photographic plate that they put under your scan area
so its sort of a giant microwave
but with a different type of radiation
so if you layed there of AGES you would be cooking
2007-12-11 08:13:09 · answer #6 · answered by Jamie 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
nahhh
2007-12-11 08:09:14 · answer #7 · answered by lola 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋