A 22-year-old patient experienced serious injuries during a routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan after failing to disclose the presence of a device containing metal components, according to a recently filed health incident report.
The incident occurred when the MRI machine’s powerful magnetic forces interacted with the metallic core of a silicone device, causing it to move through the patient’s body.
The patient, who remains unnamed for privacy reasons, required emergency medical intervention following the procedure.
According to the health professional who filed the report, the situation became critical immediately after the scan.
“When the MRI was over and the tech was pulling the table out, the patient started to scream,” the report stated.
The patient reported severe nausea, pain, and near-syncope symptoms, prompting an immediate ambulance transport to the hospital.
Professor Adam Taylor, a human anatomy expert at Lancaster University, explained the scientific basis for such injuries.
“Internal objects that have ferromagnetic interaction could move within the body and damage major blood vessels, nerves or organs causing traumatic injury and potentially even death,” Taylor said.
He noted that while the device’s movement wouldn’t reach the “speed of sound” as claimed in some social media reports, even smaller metal objects like paper clips can reach speeds of 40 mph within an MRI’s magnetic field.
Similar incidents have resulted in serious injuries in the past. Taylor cited a case involving a 65-year-old man with schizophrenia who suffered stomach tears during an MRI after swallowing metal objects, including sockets and a hinge pin. In another case, a young child who had ingested small magnets experienced bowel perforation during a scan.
The dangers extend beyond medical devices. There have been reported incidents where concealed firearms have discharged within MRI machines due to magnetic forces, resulting in injuries or fatalities.
The incident highlights the critical importance of patient disclosure and pre-scan screening protocols. Healthcare facilities routinely screen patients for metal objects, including medical devices and occupational exposure to metal shards, as part of standard safety procedures.
“Checklists and protocols for medical procedures and scans are there for a reason, to make sure that you get the best treatment,” Taylor emphasized. “Anything that reduces this efficiency may result in the need for additional surgery, repeat imaging or worse.”
The patient believed the device was safe for the procedure based on its “100 percent silicone” marketing claim. However, the presence of an internal metal core made it hazardous within the magnetic environment of an MRI machine.
Medical professionals stress that any foreign objects, regardless of their composition, should be disclosed and preferably removed before MRI procedures.
“Placing foreign objects into the body during an imaging procedure may cause artifacts on the image, which may mean whoever is looking at the scan may miss something important,” Taylor added.
The healthcare facility has attempted follow-up contact with the patient to assess their recovery status, but as of the report filing, they had not received a response.
Editor’s Note: This report is based on a health incident report and expert commentary from Professor Adam Taylor of Lancaster University and Fda.gov. The incident details were corroborated by medical documentation and expert analysis of MRI safety protocols.