Safety Resource: RF Burns

Although rare, MRI scanners have the potential to cause serious radio-frequency radiation (RF) burns. The purpose of this policy is to ensure patient comfort and safety.

During the Exam:

  1. All MRI patients must be monitored throughout the MRI procedure, both through auditory and visual feedback.
  2. All MRI patients are given an emergency call button in order to stop the exam in the event of an emergency, peripheral nerve stimulation, or excessive heating.
  3. All MRI patients are to be instructed before the examination that they may become warm during the exam. However, a hot or burning sensation is not normal, and the MRI technologist should be alerted immediately.
  4. All MRI technologists are instructed in positioning the RF coil and the patient so as to not create or induce an RF loop.
  5. Manufacturer settings actively monitor RF absorption rates as well as maintain normal operation mode during MRI examination. Technologists are instructed to always maintain normal operating mode throughout exam duration. (Manufacturer settings will not permit greater power absorption rates such as “First Level Operating Mode,” unless permission is granted by the user. This would require escalated permissions by the supervising MRSO.)
  6. If a patient notifies the technologist of the possibility of localized heating, the exam must be stopped and the patient visually assessed to ensure there are no RF burns.
  7. If there is no evidence of burns, the MRI exam may continue, ensuring only low SAR mode protocols.
  8. If the patient continues to experience heating, the exam should be immediately stopped, and the MRI supervisor should be notified.

After the Exam:

  1. Any patient complaints of heating, swelling, redness, or evidence of burning after the MRI examination will be brought to the attention of the nurse, the radiologist, and the chief MRI technologist. Proper medical attention is to be given to the patient: for example: cold packs, or if necessary, refer the patient to his/her private physician.
  2. Internal Patient Incident forms must be completed and filed as appropriate.
  3. Take photographs to document the burn, if applicable.
  4. A service call must be opened with the vendor (Philips) requesting service to investigate proper functioning and safety of MRI scanner.
  5. FDA MedWatch must be notified immediately following the patient RF burn incident.
  6. The vendor must make a recommendation as to whether the MR scanner is safe to continue scanning patients