In vitro evaluation of platinum Guglielmi detachable coils at 3 T with a porcine model: safety issues and artifacts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety-related issues and imaging artifacts of Guglielmi detachable coils in vitro with 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two aneurysm models were constructed: one from porcine carotid artery and the other from a pharmaceutical capsule. Both were filled with Guglielmi detachable coils. The models were tested with a 3-T MR imager for heating, deflection, and imaging artifact. Testing for heating and deflection was performed (a) at static points both inside and outside the bore, (b) during movement into the imager, and (c) during clinical imaging sequences.
RESULTS: No change in temperature was measured during movement into the imager bore or at different points within the bore. No differences in heating from radio-frequency energy were found between aneurysm models and controls. Similarly, no evidence of deflection of the coil mass (capsule model) was found. Minor susceptibility artifacts were found in the readout direction during gradient-echo sequences. Magnetic field mapping showed no induced field inhomogeneity.
CONCLUSION: MR imaging at field strengths of 3 T in patients with aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils is safe. Imaging artifacts are likely to be minimal.