Can Children Undergo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance? Are There Any Potential Effects?

MRI does not emit radiation and is safe for children to undergo. MRI scans can help doctors understand the brain development of children and rule out certain diseases.

1. Is MRI safe for children? Yes, MRI scans are safe for children. MRI scanning uses the hydrogen protons in the human body to generate images by capturing the weak electromagnetic signals released when they move in a magnetic field. Therefore, no radiation is used during the entire MRI process, and there is no risk of radiation damage. The changing magnetic field poses no harm to the human body.

2. Can I eat before an MRI scan? Whether or not you can eat before an MRI scan depends on the part of the body being scanned, similar to CT scans. Eating does not have a significant impact on scans of the head, limbs, and other areas. However, for abdominal scans, patients are often advised not to eat as food in the stomach can interfere with the detection of any lesions. Eating may not significantly affect the detection of liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas lesions, but it can interfere with the detection of stomach lesions, making it difficult to distinguish between lesions and food. If an MRI enhancement scan is required, patients are advised not to eat regardless of the body part being scanned. This is because during MRI enhancement scans, medication is injected into the blood vessels to help better visualize lesions. The fast injection speed may cause discomfort such as vomiting, which can lead to food entering the airway and causing coughing, resulting in patient movement and affecting image quality.