Radio frequency versus susceptibility effects of small conductive implants - a systematic MRI study on aneurysm clips at 1.5 and 3 T

MR imaging was used to analyze possible RF-induced effects. At 3 T, resonant RF coupling even of small metallic implants has to be considered carefully. Despite a local enhancement of the RF amplitude, no significant RF-induced heating inside the surrounding fluid was found. A direct thermal endangering of patients seems to be unlikely, but extremely high B1-field amplitudes might occur adjacent to the metallic surface with potential nonthermal affection of tissue.