The Clinical Impact of 1.5T MRI in Patients with a Permanently Implanted Pacemaker: A Necessary Procedure for Indicated Cases.

Gary Michael Miller¹, Norbert G. Campeau¹, Win-Kuang Shen², Joel P. Felmlee¹, Robert E. Watson¹

We reviewed all 1.5T MRI examinations performed in non-pacemaker dependent patients with implanted pacemakers to determine the clinical impact. Requests were screened by neuroradiology and patients were evaluated by cardiology. Nineteen 1.5 Tesla MRI examinations of the head and/or spine were performed on 15 patients. Neuroradiology, cardiology and radiology physics staff were present during scanning for monitoring. A variety of pathologic conditions were identified. In over half of the patients the diagnosis could only be obtained by MRI, with a diagnosis not made on alternate modalities. Continued development of safe MRI protocols is warranted.