Before an MRI, alert your doctor if you wear a transdermal
drug patch, such as those used for nicotine or drug delivery.

Why?

SOme patches have a foil backing, and the enery used in
MRI can cause the foil to conduct heat, leading to burns.

But you can't always tell whether or not your patch contains
foil just by looking at it.  So researchers at the University of
Pittsburgh are testing patches.  Their results will be on the
American College of Radiology website -- www.acr.org -
soon.

Don't rush to remove your patch, since many won't re-stick
to skin.  Even if it does, the change may affect absorption,
says study co-author Emanuel Kanal, chairman of the ACR's
MRI safety committee.  Talk to your doctor and radiologist;
in some cases, applying an ice pack may help.

RD HEALTH     December 2004