MRI & port-a-cath?

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su-texas@webtv.net - 14 Jul 2005 12:21 GMT

Can you have an MRI done, if you have a port-a-cath surgically implanted
in your chest?

Susan, Su_Texas my opinions

PS The cancer doc said the Adriamycin was responsible for the heart
damage, for causing major congestive heart failure. It's one of the side
effects.

Had I known this, had the dangers been fully explained & not discounted,
.... I would have refused that chemo.

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allan_grossman@hotmail.com - 14 Jul 2005 13:24 GMT

> Can you have an MRI done, if you have a port-a-cath surgically implanted
> in your chest?

Yup.

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allan_grossman@hotmail.com - 14 Jul 2005 15:23 GMT

I did a little more research on this. Apparently MR technology has
advanced to the point that the slight sparking from metal components in
an embedded port is now almost a nonissue. I understand they don't get
nearly as hot as they used to either.

I wouldn't worry.

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allan_grossman@hotmail.com - 14 Jul 2005 15:24 GMT

Kidding. Just kidding ;-)

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Bea - - 14 Jul 2005 18:32 GMT

>Kidding. Just kidding ;-)

Alan

Alan, it would mean a lot to me if you would not post incorrect answers
to a question unless you make sure you tell the poster you are kidding
on the same post.

I read your answer and was thinking that maybe now I could have MRIs
because the metal clip in my head would not be dangerous any longer. I
almost missed your second post saying you were kidding. Please know
that posters like myself give a lot of credence to answers from posters
we consider more knowledgeable like yourself and Tim. This is a good
lesson for us to realize we must do our own research before we accept
anyone's answers even on this site. I am just thankful I took the time
to read your second post and do hope Su-Texas did too.

Bea

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Tim Jackson - 14 Jul 2005 21:44 GMT

>>Kidding. Just kidding ;-)
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Bea

I think it was only Allan's second post that was the joke, the one where
he suggested that metal in an MRI would behave somewhat like metal in a
microwave, sparking and getting hot. This is of course quite untrue as
the excitation frequencies are relatively low. Without doing any
specific research I would be inclined to agree with his first post, that
it is not a problem.

My understanding is that surgical implants have to be designed MRI-safe,
and that most nowadays are. There are a couple of possible problems,
one is that the intense magnetic fields may cause vibration of metallic
parts of the implant, and the other is that the implant may screen or
distort the image in the area of interest. If in doubt, check with the
doctors who installed the device or with its manufacturer, especially
with older implants.

Tim

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allan grossman - 14 Jul 2005 22:47 GMT

>Alan, it would mean a lot to me if you would not post incorrect answers
>to a question unless you make sure you tell the poster you are kidding
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>anyone's answers even on this site. I am just thankful I took the time
>to read your second post and do hope Su-Texas did too.

I'm sorry, Bea - I really didn't think anybody would take me
seriously. I'll straighten up now ;-)

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allan

we don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
-- Anais Nin

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Bea - - 15 Jul 2005 00:21 GMT

>I'm sorry, Bea - I really didn't think anybody
> would take me seriously. I'll straighten up now
> ;-)

>allan

Apology accepted Allan. I guess you just did not realize how much some
of us respect your answers and take them so seriously. My neurosurgeon
put a metal clip in my head so now I cannot go near an MRI. After
reading your post, I thought it was safe for me now. I have to learn to
do more of my own homework.

Thanks anyway for all the help you so generously give us with your
knowledge.

Bea

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allan_grossman@hotmail.com - 15 Jul 2005 13:27 GMT

> Apology accepted Allan. I guess you just did not realize how much some
> of us respect your answers and take them so seriously. My neurosurgeon
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks anyway for all the help you so generously give us with your
> knowledge.

Thank you for the kind words. If you knew me better you probably
wouldn't take *anything* I said seriously - Deborah has learned to take
pretty much everything I say with a grain of salt. There are an awful
lot of raised eyebrows around my house ;-)

Enjoy your day, Bea ;-)

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Tony Lima - 16 Jul 2005 20:03 GMT

>Can you have an MRI done, if you have a port-a-cath surgically implanted
>in your chest?

My late wife had many CT scans and MRIs with her
port-a-cath. Never caused any problems at all. - Tony

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