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A case of MRI-induced headache caused by an intracranial foreign body

Hiroyuki Tokue1, Azusa Tokue1, Yoshito Tsushima1

  • 1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.

BJR Case Reports
|September 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

A patient experienced worsening headaches during an MRI due to an undetected nail in their head from a prior injury. This highlights the critical need for careful assessment before MRI scans to identify potential foreign bodies.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a crucial diagnostic tool, but poses risks with metallic foreign bodies.
  • Patient safety during MRI requires thorough pre-procedural screening.
  • Intracranial foreign bodies can present asymptomatically or with subtle symptoms.

Observation:

  • A male patient reported persistent headaches, with significant pain exacerbation upon entering the MRI suite.
  • The patient's symptoms interfered with the planned Magnetic Resonance Imaging procedure.
  • A Computed Tomography (CT) scan identified an intracranial nail, a remnant of a previous nail gun injury.

Findings:

  • The presence of an unsuspected intracranial metallic foreign body (nail) was confirmed.
  • The foreign body was directly linked to the exacerbation of headaches in the MRI environment.
  • Surgical removal of the nail was deemed too high-risk, necessitating conservative management.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers must maintain a high index of suspicion for foreign bodies in patients with unexplained symptoms near MRI.
  • Thorough patient history and screening are paramount to prevent MRI-related complications from metallic fragments.
  • This case underscores the potential dangers of metallic objects in the cranial cavity during MRI examinations.
Keywords:
MRIheadacheintracranial foreign bodynail gun

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