MRI: safety: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · MRI: safety

Sample item

A patient scheduled for MRI is found to have an intraocular metallic foreign body from welding. What is the appropriate action?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Withhold MRI and consider other modalities as there is risk of ocular injury

Ferromagnetic fragments can move in the strong magnetic field and cause blindness or haemorrhage. Orbital radiographs or CT should screen at-risk patients, and MRI is contraindicated if a metallic body is present. Other absolute risks include some cochlear implants and older pacemakers.

Option by option

  • A. Give sedation and proceed

    Sedation does not remove the risk of movement.

  • B. Proceed after wearing earplugs

    Earplugs protect hearing and do not influence the foreign body risk.

  • C. Withhold MRI and consider other modalities as there is risk of ocular injury (correct)

    Correct. A ferromagnetic orbital foreign body makes MRI unsafe.

  • D. Proceed at low field strength without screening

    Even low field strength can displace ferromagnetic fragments.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Withhold MRI and consider other modalities as there is risk of ocular injury. Ferromagnetic fragments can move in the strong magnetic field and cause blindness or haemorrhage.

Why is "Give sedation and proceed" not the answer?

Sedation does not remove the risk of movement.

Why is "Proceed after wearing earplugs" not the answer?

Earplugs protect hearing and do not influence the foreign body risk.

Why is "Proceed at low field strength without screening" not the answer?

Even low field strength can displace ferromagnetic fragments.

What concept does this question test?

It tests MRI: safety in Radiology. Orbital radiographs or CT should screen at-risk patients, and MRI is contraindicated if a metallic body is present. Other absolute risks include some cochlear implants and older pacemakers.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study MRI: safety?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.