by Björn Friebe, Astrid Wollrab, Markus Thormann, Katharina Fischbach, Jens Ricke, Marcus Grueschow, Siegfried Kropf, Frank Fischbach, Oliver Speck
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To determine the subjective experience of subjects undergoing 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to a mock scanner with no magnetic field. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In all, 44 healthy subjects were exposed to both the B0 field of a 7T whole-body MRI and a realistic mock scanner with no magnetic field. Subjects were blinded to the actual field strength and no scanning was performed. After exposure, subjects rated their experience of potential sensory perceptions. RESULTS: The most frequently observed side effect was vertigo while entering the gantry, which was reported by 38.6\% (n = 17). Other frequent side effects were the appearance of phosphenes (18.2\%, n = 8), thermal heat sensation (15.9\%), unsteady gait after exposure (13.6\%, n = 6), and dizziness (13.6\%). All side effects were reported significantly more often after 7T exposure. Nine subjects (20.5\%) did not report any sensory perceptions at all, ie, neither in the 7T scanner nor in the mock scanner. CONCLUSION: Light, acute, and transient sensory perceptions can occur in subjects undergoing ultrahighfield MRI, of which vertigo seems to be the most frequently reported. Possible psychological effects might contribute to the emergence of such sensory perceptions, as some subjects also reported them to appear in a realistic mock scanner with no magnetic field.
Reference:
Sensory perceptions of individuals exposed to the static field of a 7T MRI: A controlled blinded study. (Björn Friebe, Astrid Wollrab, Markus Thormann, Katharina Fischbach, Jens Ricke, Marcus Grueschow, Siegfried Kropf, Frank Fischbach, Oliver Speck), In Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI, volume 41, 2015.
Bibtex Entry:
@article{friebe_sensory_2015,
	title = {Sensory perceptions of individuals exposed to the static field of a 7T {MRI}: {A} controlled blinded study.},
	volume = {41},
	copyright = {(c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.},
	issn = {1522-2586 1053-1807},
	doi = {10.1002/jmri.24748},
	abstract = {PURPOSE: To determine the subjective experience of subjects undergoing 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to a mock scanner with no magnetic field. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In all, 44 healthy subjects were exposed to both the B0 field of a 7T whole-body MRI and a realistic mock scanner with no magnetic field. Subjects were blinded to the actual field strength and no scanning was performed. After exposure, subjects rated their experience of potential sensory perceptions. RESULTS: The most frequently observed side effect was vertigo while entering the gantry, which was reported by 38.6\% (n = 17). Other frequent side effects were the appearance of phosphenes (18.2\%, n = 8), thermal heat sensation (15.9\%), unsteady gait after exposure (13.6\%, n = 6), and dizziness (13.6\%). All side effects were reported significantly more often after 7T exposure. Nine subjects (20.5\%) did not report any sensory perceptions at all, ie, neither in the 7T scanner nor in the mock scanner. CONCLUSION: Light, acute, and transient sensory perceptions can occur in subjects undergoing ultrahighfield MRI, of which vertigo seems to be the most frequently reported. Possible psychological effects might contribute to the emergence of such sensory perceptions, as some subjects also reported them to appear in a realistic mock scanner with no magnetic field.},
	language = {eng},
	number = {6},
	journal = {Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI},
	author = {Friebe, Björn and Wollrab, Astrid and Thormann, Markus and Fischbach, Katharina and Ricke, Jens and Grueschow, Marcus and Kropf, Siegfried and Fischbach, Frank and Speck, Oliver},
	month = jun,
	year = {2015},
	pmid = {25236353},
	keywords = {*Electromagnetic Fields, *Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 7T, Adult, Female, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, magnetic resonance imaging, Male, MRI safety, Sensation/*physiology, Surveys and Questionnaires, ultrahighfield MRI, vertigo, Vertigo/*physiopathology},
	pages = {1675--1681}
}