Tissue warming and regulatory responses induced by radio frequency energy deposition on a whole-body 3-tesla magnetic resonance imager

Purpose: To quantify the B1-field induced tissue warming on a 3T-whole-body scanner to test whether the patient is able to sense the temperature change, and to evaluate whether the imaging procedure constitutes a significant cardiovascular stress. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 volunteers were divided into three equal groups for 3.0T MRI of the pelvis, the head, or the knee. An imaging protocol operating at first level mode was applied, allowing radio frequency (RF) irradiation up to the legal specific absorption rate (SAR) limits. An identical placebo protocol with active gradient switching but without RF without RF transmission was used. Temperature changes were measured with a fiber-optic thermometer (FO) and an infrared camera (IR). Results: Temperature differences to the placebo were highest for imaging of the pelvis (FO: Delta T = 0.88 +/- 0.13 degrees C, IR: Delta T = 1.01 +/- 0.15 degrees C) as compared to the head (FO: Delta T = 0.46 +/- 0.12 degrees C, IR: Delta T = 0.47 +/- 0.10 degrees C) and the knee (FO: Delta T = 0.33 +/- 0.11 degrees C, IR: Delta T = 0.37 +/- 0.09 degrees C). The volunteers were able to discriminate between imaging and placebo for pelvic (P < 0.0001) and head (P = 0.0005) imaging but not for knee imaging (P = 0.209). No changes in heart rate or blood pressure were detected. Conclusion: The 3.0T MRI in the first operational mode may lead to measurable and perceptible thermal energy deposition. However, it may be regarded as safe concerning the thermoregulatory cardiovascular stress.