Pregnancy Quick Reference
Clinical practice guidelines for the use of CT & MRI in pregnant and lactating patients.
MRI with Gadolinium Contrast
Gadolinium-based contrast agents should only be administered when deemed necessary by the radiologist.
The MRI Safety Committee establishes and maintains the MRI safety guidelines, policies, and procedures for all clinical and research MRI systems operated at UCSF and SF VA Medical Center. Policies and procedures are evaluated and updated monthly to ensure compliance with the latest standards. Following are current guidelines and comprehensive reference materials.
Magnetic resonance safety, bioeffects, and patient management information.
MRI Screening Form
View and download the MRI screening form.
MRI Implant Table
Reference information about specific types of body implants and devices.
What Can Go Into the Magnet?
The following absolute and relative contraindications for MRI are the most common items or medical devices encountered at UCSF. This is by no means a complete list. New medical devices not found here should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This webpage will be updated when new information becomes available.
Anyone coming near the MRI magnetic field should be screened for contraindications. A useful reference for determining MR compatibility is Dr. Frank Shellock's Pocket Guide to MR Procedures and Metallic Objects. An excellent online reference maintained by Dr. Shellock and colleagues is mrisafety.com. The best resource for assessing the MR conditionality of individual devices is the manufacturer’s website.
Note that Normal Operating Mode for MR scanners is limited to a maximum whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2W/kg. This is useful to remember when considering the specific MRI parameter recommendations for various MRI conditional devices.