Is MR-induced RF heating around implanted leads lower at 0.55 T than 1.5 T? Not necessarily.

Low-field MRI systems have been advertised as “safe” for patients with implants – but is this true? In a series of systematic simulations, we looked at implants with varied length, amount of coiling, and insulation during RF exposure in both 0.55 T and 1.5 T MRI environments. We found that both the actual and apparent length of the implant can significantly impact heating. There are several cases where heating is substantially higher at 0.55 T than 1.5 T, suggesting that no broad claims should be made, and these factors need to be carefully considered before scanning a patient.