Patients with metallic coils and Amplatzer vascular plugs used to treat pulmonary arteriovenous malformations since 1984 can safely undergo magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the MRI safety of metallic coils and Amplatzer vascular plugs. Currently, concern regarding MR safety of devices used to treat pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) causes delays in performing emergency MRI in patients presenting with acute neurological symptoms.

METHODS

A retrospective audit was performed on all patients who underwent PAVM embolization at Hammersmith Hospital, London UK between 1984 and 2017. Outcomes of all MRI studies performed at our institution were recorded. In addition, known outcomes of all known MRI studies performed on patients treated with the earliest steel coils (1984-1995) were recorded.

RESULTS

At our institution, 20 patients underwent 1.5 T MRI after the insertion of 100 steel coils (15.5 - 28.6, median 22 years later), 140 coils designated MR-conditional (0.42 - 12.7, median 9.3 years later), and 54 MRI-conditional Amplatzer vascular plugs (0.17 - 8.0, median 0.75 years later) many in combination. The majority of scans were for cerebral indications, but other body regions scanned included spinal, thoracic, and pelvic regions. No adverse events were reported. Similarly, there were no adverse events in any MR scan known to have been performed in other institutions in seven further patients treated with the earliest steel coils (1984-1995). Again, the majority of scans were for cerebral indications.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate MR safety at 1.5 T of all PAVM embolization devices inserted in a main UK centre since inception in 1984.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

MRI of patients who have had PAVMs treated by embolization can be implemented without contacting specialist pulmonary arteriovenous malformation treatment centres for approval.