Acupressure magnets: a possible MRI hazard

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Auriculotherapy

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) increasingly incorporates magnets for therapeutic purposes.
• Auriculotherapy, a form of CAM, utilizes small magnets placed on specific ear points.
• These magnets are generally considered safe but pose potential risks during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Observation:

• A case involving auriculotherapy magnets that evaded standard MRI screening protocols is presented.
• Despite screening forms and a metal detector, the magnets were not detected prior to the MRI.
• The undetected magnets resulted in significant image artifact during the MRI examination.

Findings:

• Auriculotherapy magnets can cause substantial artifact in MRI scans.
• These magnets, even when small, represent a potential hazard in the MRI environment.
• Standard screening methods may not be sufficient to identify all such ferromagnetic objects.

Implications:

• Patient screening practices for MRI require updates to include potential risks from therapeutic magnets.
• Healthcare providers performing MRIs and those administering magnet therapies need education on this specific hazard.
• Improved detection methods are crucial to ensure patient safety and diagnostic image quality in MRI procedures.