Björn Friebe1, Astrid Wollrab2, Markus Thormann1, Katharina Fischbach1, Jens Ricke1, Marcus Grueschow3, Siegfried Kropf4, Frank Fischbach1, Oliver Speck2,5. 1. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany. 2. Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance (BMMR), Division Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany. 3. Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland. 4. Institute for Biometrics and Biomedical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany. 5. Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
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.
RCT Entities:
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.
Authors: Andrea Grant; Gregory J Metzger; Pierre-François Van de Moortele; Gregor Adriany; Cheryl Olman; Lin Zhang; Joseph Koopermeiners; Yiğitcan Eryaman; Margaret Koeritzer; Meredith E Adams; Thomas R Henry; Kamil Uğurbil Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2020-08-18 Impact factor: 2.546
Authors: Valentina Hartwig; Giorgio Virgili; F Ederica Mattei; Cristiano Biagini; Stefania Romeo; Olga Zeni; Maria Rosaria Scarfì; Rita Massa; Francesco Campanella; Luigi Landini; Fabriziomaria Gobba; Alberto Modenese; Giulio Giovannetti Journal: Med Biol Eng Comput Date: 2021-09-29 Impact factor: 2.602