As important as the MRI is in detecting disease and abnormalities deep within the human body, the process carries certain risks that have only recently come to light. Risks from imaging agents such as gadolinium, and recent concern over the long-term impact of the magnetic fields associated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging, can pose serious health risks for some patients, sometimes resulting in death.

An imaging agent is a dye that is injected into the patient, in an effort to provide the best image possible for the doctor, or technician conducting the procedure. While gadolinium has been found to be toxic if it remains in the human body for an appreciable amount of time after an MRI scan, for most people the risk is mitigated as the dye is expelled by the kidneys.

 

However, for people with kidney problems, getting rid of that gadolinium is easier said than done, and the fallout is Nephrongenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) and a related condition, Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD). Those who have experienced the painful symptoms of NSF/NFD have likened it to a living hell. Skin begins to darken in color, takes on a shiny tone, and hardens and tightens in a fashion that brings on extreme pain. Joints become painful and results in restricted movement, and damage to the heart and lungs can result. Eyes take on a yellowed, jaundiced look.

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Recently, MRI has been increasingly accepted by radiologists, surgeons and patients to image the rectum because of its superior soft tissue contrast and multi-planar capability,” said Chuanfu Li, MD, lead author of the study. “Most rectal MRI studies have used field strength of 1.5 Tesla or less. Only two recent studies focus on 3T MRI for diagnosing and staging rectal cancer. “No standard protocol is available for 3T MRI of the rectum, which may cause inconsistent diagnostic accuracy among institutions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality of various 3T MR sequences for preoperative staging and planning of sphincter sparing rectal cancer resection,” he said. Read More