Safety of human MRI at static fields above the FDA 8 T guideline: sodium imaging at 9.4 T does not affect vital signs or cognitive ability

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007 Nov;26(5):1222-7. doi: 10.1002/jmri.21150.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether exposure to a 9.4 T static magnetic field during sodium imaging at 105.92 MHz affects human vital signs and cognitive function.

Materials and methods: Measurements of human vital signs and cognitive ability made before and after exposure to a 9.4 T MR scanner and a mock scanner with no magnetic field are compared using a protocol approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Results: Exposure to a 9.4 T static magnetic field during sodium imaging did not result in a statistically significant change in the vital signs or cognitive ability of healthy normal volunteers.

Conclusion: Vital sign and cognitive ability measurements made before and after sodium imaging at 9.4 T suggest that performing human MRI at 105.92 MHz in a 9.4 T static magnetic field does not pose a health risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure / radiation effects*
  • Cognition / radiation effects*
  • Device Approval
  • Electromagnetic Fields / adverse effects*
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Equipment Safety / standards*
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Maximum Allowable Concentration
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Respiratory Mechanics / radiation effects*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sodium

Substances

  • Sodium