Focus on MR safety

Abstract

THE SAFETY OF THE PATIENTS we serve with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic studies is of primary concern to clinicians and basic scientists who have developed, improved, and extended the significant capabilities of MRI beyond any other imaging modality in history. This special issue has been conceived and developed by the Safety Committee and the Board of Trustees of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) through the leadership of Penny A. Gowland, PhD, Safety Committee Chair, in cooperation with her dedicated committee including Ergin Atalar, PhD, Stuart Crozier, PhD, Luc Darrasse, PhD, Jeffrey L. Duerk, PhD (ex officio), Richard L. Ehman, MD, Hans Engels, PhD, Georg Frese, Roy E. Gordon, PhD, Jürgen Hennig, PhD, Derek L.G. Hill, PhD, Stephen F. Keevil, PhD, Walter Kucharczyk, MD, Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD (ex officio), Caron Murray, MRT (R) (MR), David G. Norris, PhD, Martin R. Prince, MD, PhD, David W. Stanley, BS, RT, (R) (MR), Sardha Lalith Talagala, PhD, and Lawrence M. White, MD. This special issue is the second in a series of special issues on MR safety published in recent years by JMRI in an effort to encourage safety as a continuing primary commitment and to serve as a vehicle to document the scientific basis upon which safety decisions, protocols, and devices may be appropriately and safely developed and used. The previous special issue on MR safety was published in July 2000 (1). It is notable that the recent concerns potentially linking gadolinium contrast agents with the serious complications of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) prompted the Scientific Program Committee of the 2007 ISMRM/ESMRMB meeting in Berlin to establish and conduct an NSF workshop with international participation by scientists, clinicians, and regulatory agencies (2). This important symposium was organized, directed, and moderated by Georg Bongartz, MD, and Walter Kucharczyk, MD, and included invited speakers from international laboratories. A summary of this workshop is included in this special issue (3). It is important to call your attention also to the introduction to this safety issue prepared by recognized leaders in the field of MR safety, including Penny A. Gowland, PhD, Chair, ISMRM Safety Committee, Walter Kucharczyk, MD, FRCPC, Georg Bongartz, MD, Ronald R. Price, PhD, and Martin Prince, MD, PhD (4). The ISMRM safety initiatives and significant efforts have been established in parallel with the dedicated and productive efforts of others. These groups include the American College of Radiology Blue Ribbon Panel on MR Safety under the leadership of Emanuel Kanal, MD, Panel Chair (5). The panel consists of the following members: A. James Barkovich, MD; Charlotte Bell, MD (American Society of Anesthesiologists); James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR; William G. Bradley, MD, PhD, FACR; Jerry W. Froelich, MD; Tobias Gilk, architect; J. Rod Gimbel, MD, FACC, cardiologist; John Gosbee, MD, MS; Ellisa Kuhni-Kaminski, RT (R), (MR); Emanuel Kanal, MD, FACR, FISMRM (chair); James W. Lester, MD: John Nyenhuis, PhD; Yoav Parag, MD; Daniel Joe Schaefer, PhD, engineer; Elizabeth A. Sebek-Scoumis, RN, BSN, CRN; Jeffrey Weinreb, MD; Loren A. Zaremba, PhD, FDA; Pamela Wilcox, RN, MBA (ACR staff); Leonard Lucey, JD, LLM (ACR staff); and Nancy Sass, RT (R), (MR) (CT) (ACR staff). In addition, an ISMRM workshop on MRI safety was held in McLean, Virginia on November 5–6, 2005. It was codirected by Frank Shellock, PhD, and Daniel Joe Shaffer, PhD (6). Further, the important work of the Institute for Magnetic Resonance Safety, Education, and Research under the leadership of Frank G. Shellock, PhD, has been a significant force in evaluating and documenting the safety issues concerning implants and devices (7, 8). It is with special energy that the ISMRM and the JMRI Editorial Board wish to express their deep and abiding appreciation to all those who demonstrate a high level of dedication to, and discussion about, the safe development and use of MRI and spectroscopic techniques for the benefit of all who look to us for diagnosis and treatment. Obviously, we strive always to hold free from harm and to encourage all patients. It is also a significant privilege to be a meaningful part of an interdisciplinary and international team that seeks to enable vehicles of healing! The commitment, responsibility, and opportunity to continue to improve quality, safety, and capability for our patients using MRI is a continuing major commitment for at least the above-mentioned societies and investigators and will serve society and the field well by providing a scientific basis upon which meaningful safety guidelines may be developed, modified, and improved in the future.