Purpose: To examine the symptoms magnetic resonace (MR) technologists experience from exposure to the static magnetic field (SMF) surrounding MR imaging scanners.
Methods: MR imaging technologists completed an investigator-designed questionnaire that captured personal and professional demographics, symptoms related to exposure to SMFs, and other information. The authors distributed the questionnaire using an MR imaging safety group on Facebook and used the data to generate descriptive statistics. They performed t tests and a thematic analysis for open-ended questions.
Results: A total of 408 MR imaging technologists from multiple countries responded to the questionnaire. Seventy-eight percent of participants experienced undesirable symptoms related to SMF exposure. Dizziness, vertigo, visual disturbances, nystagmus, and metallic taste were the most frequently reported symptoms. Dizziness severity was greater among technologists who worked with very high and ultra-high field strength compared to those who worked with low-field and high-field strengths.
Discussion: Similar to previous research, dizziness was the most frequently reported symptom. However, participants identified symptoms that had not been reported previously, such as radiculopathy (pain, weakness, and numbness) and dropping things. In addition, the results of the study revealed that the educational paths technologists took to work with MR scanners was not consistent across settings.
Conclusion: Future research using a larger sample size and a wider range of symptoms is needed to better understand the occupational hazard potential inherent in MR imaging.
Keywords: exposure education; magnetic resonance imaging; occupational exposure; static magnetic field; symptoms.
© 2020 American Society of Radiologic Technologists.