What happens if I forget to remove a piercing before an MRI?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers an unmatched perspective of the human body. The level of detail MRI provides is exceptional. It is the preferred diagnostic tool for various injuries and conditions due to its remarkable ability to customize the scan to address specific medical queries.

The most vital component of an MRI system is the magnet. Its strength is measured in a unit called a tesla, with another common unit being the gauss (1 tesla = 10,000 gauss). Modern MRI magnets range from 0.5 to 3.0 teslas, or 5,000 to 30,000 gauss. Magnetic fields stronger than 3 teslas are not authorized for medical imaging, although far more potent magnets—up to 60 teslas—are used in research. In comparison, the Earth's magnetic field is only 0.5 gauss, illustrating how immensely powerful MRI magnets are.

Due to the immense strength of MRI magnets, the MRI room can be a perilous environment if safety protocols aren't strictly followed. Metal objects become hazardous projectiles in the scan room. For example, paperclips, pens, keys, scissors, hemostats, stethoscopes, and any small metallic items can be unexpectedly pulled from pockets or the body and hurtled at high speeds toward the magnet's opening, where the patient is positioned. This creates a serious risk for everyone in the room. Additionally, credit cards, bank cards, and any items with magnetic strips will be wiped clean by most MRI machines.

Has this occurred before?

The magnetic force on an object intensifies dramatically as it gets closer to the magnet. Picture standing 15 feet (4.6 meters) away from the magnet, holding a large pipe wrench. You may feel a mild pull. Take a few steps closer, and the force grows much stronger. When you're only 3 feet (1 meter) away, the wrench is likely to be yanked from your hands. The heavier an object is, the more dangerous it can become, as the attraction to the magnet is much greater. Items such as mop buckets, vacuum cleaners, IV poles, oxygen tanks, stretchers, heart monitors, and many other objects have all been drawn into MRI magnetic fields. Smaller items can usually be removed by hand, while larger ones may need to be detached with a winch, or in some cases, the magnetic field may need to be deactivated.

Before allowing anyone into the MRI room, patients and staff are thoroughly checked for metal objects—both external and internal. Some patients may have implants that make exposure to a strong magnetic field extremely risky. For instance, metallic fragments in the eye are highly dangerous, as moving them can lead to eye injury or even blindness. People with pacemakers are not allowed to enter or even get near the MRI scanner, as the magnet can disrupt their function. Brain aneurysm clips can also be perilous, as the magnet could shift them, potentially causing the clip to tear the artery it was meant to repair.

As evident, MRI magnetic fields are extraordinarily powerful. If any metal was overlooked during the screening, it could lead to serious issues. Jewelry being pulled off your body and into the MRI machine is entirely possible.