[Risks and artifacts in MRT (1.5 tesla) caused by metallic foreign bodies. Studies on phantoms and 60 patients]

Our experience of the effects of metallic foreign bodies on MRT high field examinations is described. In vitro measurements showed moderate magnetic torsion or displacement in a few cases. The findings in 60 patients with various metal foreign bodies and the resulting artifacts are discussed. Despite local loss of information, in the majority of cases there is additional evidence provided by MRT, which suffers less from foreign body artifacts than does CT. Stainless steel implants result in some signal loss and geometric distortion, but do not usually constitute a danger to the patient and do not affect the diagnostic information from surrounding structures.