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Abstract #4785

The Safety of MRI in Patients with Implanted Sacral Neuromodulation Systems: RF-Induced Heating

John S. Thornton1, David W. Carmichael2, Shahid Khan3, Clare J. Fowler4, Thomas M. Kessler4

1Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, National Hosiptal for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; 3Department of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 4Department of Uro-Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK


A sacral neuromodulation system was located in an anthropomorphic tissue-equivalent gel phantom and electrode temperatures monitored with a fibre-optic thermometer. A 6.5 min FSE acquisition was performed in a 3Tesla Siemens system at a number of landmark positions and sequence SARS up to 2W/kg whole-body. When landmarked on the phantom head, electrode-associated temperature rises were 0.10oC or less. At other landmark positions, sequence SAR and temperature rises varied widely with position, but electrode-associated temperature increases were always < 2oC. MRI in patients with sacral neuromodulation implants may be safe but landmark, scanner and software-level specific SAR limits must be applied.

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