Q: What does the MR scanning center staff need to know about me to perform the scan?

Besides complete information about your medical history, your doctor and the MR staff must know if you have any metal in your body which cannot be remove including:

• pacemakers
• implanted insulin pumps
• aneurysm clips
• vascular coils and filters
• heart valves
• ear implants
• surgical staples and wires
• shrapnel
• bone or joint replacements
• metal plates, rods, pins or screws
• contraceptive diaphragms or coils
• penile implants
• permanent dentures

In most cases, you can be scanned even though you have metal implants. Nevertheless, the radiologist and MRI staff must be aware of them. Also, tell a member of the staff if you are pregnant or if there is a possibility you are pregnant.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SCANNED IF YOU HAVE A PACEMAKER OR OTHER IMPLANTED MECHANICALLY, ELECTRICALLY OR MAGNETICALLY ACTIVATED DEVICE. UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ORDERED BY THE RADIOLOGIST, YOU WILL NOT BE SCANNED IF YOU HAVE METAL IMPLANTS IN THE HEAD REGION.

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