Safety of human MRI at static fields above the FDA 8 T guideline: sodium imaging at 9.4 T does not affect vital signs or cognitive ability.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether exposure to a 9.4 T static magnetic field during sodium imaging at 105.92 MHz affects human vital signs and cognitive function.


METHODS
Measurements of human vital signs and cognitive ability made before and after exposure to a 9.4 T MR scanner and a mock scanner with no magnetic field are compared using a protocol approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


RESULTS
Exposure to a 9.4 T static magnetic field during sodium imaging did not result in a statistically significant change in the vital signs or cognitive ability of healthy normal volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
Vital sign and cognitive ability measurements made before and after sodium imaging at 9.4 T suggest that performing human MRI at 105.92 MHz in a 9.4 T static magnetic field does not pose a health risk.
Atkinson
Ian C
IC
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. ian@uic.edu
Renteria
Laura
L
Burd
Holly
H
Pliskin
Neil H
NH
Thulborn
Keith R
KR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018795:Device Approval; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012964:Sodium
D012964:Sodium