Can the head of a person who has a bullet in his head be scanned with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging,) or would the metal cause complications?

"Due to the use of the strong magnet, MRI cannot be performed on patients with implanted pacemakers, intracranial aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, certain prosthetic devices, implanted drug infusion pumps, neurostimulators, bone-growth stimulators, certain intrauterine contraceptive devices, or any other type of iron-based metal implants. MRI is also contraindicated in the presence of internal metallic objects such as bullets or shrapnel, as well as surgical clips, pins, plates, screws, metal sutures, or wire mesh."

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Originally Posted by rickj

"Due to the use of the strong magnet, MRI cannot be performed on patients with implanted pacemakers, intracranial aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, certain prosthetic devices, implanted drug infusion pumps, neurostimulators, bone-growth stimulators, certain intrauterine contraceptive devices, or any other type of iron-based metal implants. MRI is also contraindicated in the presence of internal metallic objects such as bullets or shrapnel, as well as surgical clips, pins, plates, screws, metal sutures, or wire mesh."

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Thanks for the quick and competent answer...

but you should be able to to a CAT scan in this situation, which is a layered series of x-rays instead of the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field as in the MRI.

is this question based off gray's anatomy last night? Didn't catch whether they had run a CT or MRI on the girl. Knowing there were bullet wounds, they should have done a cat.

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Originally Posted by kp2171

but you should be able to to a CAT scan in this situation, which is a layered series of xrays instead of the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field as in the MRI.

is this question based off gray's anatomy last night? didnt catch whether they had run a CT or MRI on the girl. knowing there were bullet wounds, they should have done a cat.

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kp2171, the question has its roots in a real case. A family member of mine, who has a bullet in his head since several years, after a buglar shot him in his eye, had to be examined because of a suspected tumor in his head. That's at least what the doctor said and he charged for a MRI and not for a CAT, what surprised me very much. So, before asking uncomfortable questions to that doctor, I just wanted to be sure, that MRI was out of question...

Well it's a reasonable question. One of the screening questions for doing the mri should be whether there are any metal implants or other metal foreign objects in the body, and the doc shouldve known about the gunshot from the patient history.

Mri is better at soft tissue than cat so not a surprise hed prefer an mri, but with a bullet in the brain? Think hed do a cat.

Also, the family doc should have access to the radiology files. There will be no question as to whether it was a cat or mri in the files and whether the charge was simply a mistake.

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Originally Posted by kp2171

well its a reasonable question. one of the screening questions for doing the mri should be whether there are any metal implants or other metal foreign objects in the body, and the doc shouldve known about the gunshot from the patient history.

mri is better at soft tissue than cat so not a surprise hed prefer an mri, but with a bullet in the brain? think hed do a cat.

also, the family doc should have access to the radiology files. there will be no question as to whether it was a cat or mri in the files and whether the charge was simply a mistake.

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The issue is quite complicated, because the same doctor claimed to have removed a Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade IV from the same head and now, one year later other doctors cannot even find a trace of this tumor (ok, there are operation marks on the head, but that's not a proof). Some people do have the impression that the doctor just wants to make money by claiming to have used his expensive hi-tech equipment. By the way, the whole story has not happened in the US but much further south...
The convulsions which led to the cancer diagnosis, could well have been caused by the bullet, which remains in the head (too dangerous to be removed).

Well does the patient remember the exam?

There are noises during both, but I believe the mri is louder, with distinctive hammering or clicking sounds.

I will enquire...