SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS TO AVOID CURRENT-INDUCED SKIN BURNS IN MRI

The safety aspects of radiological methods continue to evolve. In this paper we report on two cases of skin burns in MRI caused by induced e lectrical current. A second- and a third-degree skin burn occurred dur ing imaging in a 1.5 T system. The electromagnetic radiofrequency fiel d inadvertently led to electrical currents caused by a conducting loop through the extremities and trunk. Skin burns induced by electrical c urrent may occur in extremely rare cases even with standard MR imaging protocols operating within all current safely guidelines by inadverte ntly forming a closed conducting loop. By avoiding focal skin to skin contact of the extremities,this extremely rare adverse event can be av oided.