MORNING CATEGORICAL COURSE
Safety Update

Organizer: Penny A. Gowland, Ph.D.
Skill Level: Basic - Intermediate

Tuesday 6 May, Wednesday 7 May, Thursday 8 May and Friday 9 May 2008

Overview:

This course of four one-hour sessions will be focused primarily on the science of MR safety, rather than safety management. It will focus on biological interactions with the static field and RF field and it will explain the issues involved in choosing a suitable contrast agent. Finally, it will also explain the basis upon which international guidelines relating to MRI are established and compare guidelines across the world.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • List the main interactions between the static field and the sensory organs in humans;
  • List the main interactions between the static field and cells;
  • Explain the origins of the inhomogeneous temperature rise in the body due to exposure to the RF field from an MRI RF coil, and predict situations likely to lead to an increased risk of RF burns;
  • Decide how to recommend whether it is safe to scan someone with an implant;
  • Identify the hazards associated with MR contrast agents, and contrast different types of agents in terms of the risk profiles; and
  • Compare the regulatory position for MRI across the world.

    Audience Description:

    This course is designed for Ph.D. physicists, with interests in hardware or software (i.e., any physicist). It is suitable for new entrants to the field, or anyone who wants to revise the underlying science of MR safety.  The section on contrast agents may also be of interest to clinicians who are new to the field of MRI.

         
    Tuesday    
    7:00 Contrast Agents: Safety Profile Val M. Runge, M.D.
    7:30 Contrast Agents: Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) Tim Leiner, M.D., Ph.D.
    8:00 Adjournment  
         
    Wednesday    
    7:00 RF Heating: RF Modelling - Hot Spots and Blood Flow Tamer S. Ibrahim, Ph.D.
    7:30 RF Heating: RF and Implants John A. Nyenhuis, Ph.D.
    8:00 Adjournment  
         
    Thursday    
    7:00 Bioeffects of Static and Gradient Fields: Sensing the Static Field Paul M. Glover, Ph.D.
    7:30 Bioeffects of Static and Gradient Fields: Cellular Effects Junji Miyakoshi
    8:00 Adjournment  
         
    Friday    
    7:00 Regulatory Position: How ICNIRP Sets its Guidelines Paolo Vecchia, Ph.D.
    7:30 Regulatory Position: Regulatory Position Across the World Stephen F. Keevil, Ph.D.
    8:00 Adjournment