MRI question

[davemchine]

I recently had X-rays taken of my hands and it was noted my right hand has metal fragments in it. I have had MANY MRI's though with no problem. Do you think the person reading the X-ray was wrong?

[btfc]

Either that, or you are being assimilated.

[GGD]

Do you have any idea how metal fragments could have gotten there?

[NewtonMP2100]

....just guessing but the fragments may be metal but perhaps not 'magnetic' metal......????

[datbeme]

Did you share your forum handle with them? That might have factored into it.

[NewtonMP2100]

GGD wrote:
Do you have any idea how metal fragments could have gotten there?

....from the war.....

[dochocson]

If the fragments are IN your hand, then they're not magnetic. Sometimes metal flakes ON the skin may be misread as being subcutaneous. Could always ask for a copy of the film and have a look.

[Dennis S]

I was told the same thing about a metal object in my hip. There was no way.

[davemchine]

If the fragments are indeed metal I think a pistol mishap 30 years ago may have been the culprit. I was target practicing with my grandfathers 22 pistol, squeezed the trigger and nothing happened, squeezed harder and the barrel half rotated and fired. Metal pieces went into the opposite hand causing it to bleed. I remember being panicked but it didn't hurt so I just forgot about it. It was a long time ago and I was only 16. That's my only theory but it seems like metal in my hand would have been an issue during an MRI.

[TheTominator]

MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Brass, lead, and many other metals are non-magnetic and do not create hazardous migration problems for an MRI.

The presence of non-magnetic metal may cause a local distortion in the image though.