JACR Article: Incidence of Adverse Events Related to Ballistic Fragments in Patients Undergoing MRI at a Large Urban Health System

Incidence of Adverse Events Related to Ballistic Fragments in Patients Undergoing MRI at a Large Urban Health System: Implications for MR Safety Screening

In this JACR article, researchers reviewed imaging and medical records from 2010 to 2023 and identified 220 patients with retained ballistic fragments who subsequently underwent MRI. Four patients (1.8%) experienced minor, transient symptoms, and all of those cases involved fragments located in superficial soft tissues. There did not appear to be any serious adverse events or lasting injuries, and no treatments were required. The authors concluded that MRI can be performed safely in many patients with retained ballistic fragments when supported by a structured screening process.

Read article »

Authors: Paul M. Armenta, MD; Adam Siegel, MD; Russel R. Fullerton, MD; Renee Segarra; Judah Burns, MD; Michael L. Lipton, MD, PhD