title: [Safety considerations to avoid current-induced skin burns in MRI procedures].
abstract: The safety aspects of radiological methods continue to evolve. In this paper we report on two cases of skin burns in MRI caused by induced electrical current. A second- and a third-degree skin burn occurred during imaging in a 1.5 T system. The electromagnetic radiofrequency field inadvertently led to electrical currents caused by a conducting loop through the extremities and trunk. Skin burns induced by electrical current may occur in extremely rare cases even with standard MR imaging protocols operating within all current safety guidelines by inadvertently forming a closed conducting loop. By avoiding focal skin to skin contact of the extremities, this extremely rare adverse event can be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Forschungsschwerpunkt Radiologische Diagnostik und Therapie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (dkfz), Heidelberg.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Metzner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brix
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Kaick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008080:Liposarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*