Changes in the specific absorption rate (SAR) of radiofrequency energy in patients with retained cardiac leads during MRI at 1.5T and 3T

Purpose: To evaluate the local specific absorption rate (SAR) and heating around retained cardiac leads during MRI at 64 MHz (1.5T) and 127 MHz (3T) as a function of RF coil type and imaging landmark. Methods: Numerical models of retained cardiac leads were built from CT and X-ray images of 6 patients with retained cardiac leads. Electromagnetic simulations and bio-heat modeling were performed with MRI RF body and head coils tuned to 64 MHz and 127 MHz and positioned at 9 different imaging landmarks covering an area from the head to the lower limbs. Results: For all patients and at both 1.5T and 3T, local transmit head coils produced negligible temperature rise (DT<0:1C) for ||B1⁺|| ≤ 3µT. For body imaging with quadrature-driven coils at 1.5T, ΔT during a 10-min scan remained < 3°C at all imaging landmarks for ||B1⁺|| ≤ 3µT and <6°C for ||B1⁺|| ≤ 4µT. For body imaging at 3T, ΔT during a 10-min scan remained < 6°C at all imaging landmarks for (Formula presented.). For shorter pulse sequences up to 2 min, ΔT remained < 6°C for ||B1⁺|| ≤ 3µT. Conclusion: For the models based on 6 patients studied, simulations suggest that MRI could be performed safely using a local head coil at both 1.5T and 3T, and with a body coil at 1.5T with pulses that produced ||B1⁺|| ≤ 4µT. MRI at 3T could be performed safely in these patients using pulses with ||B1⁺|| ≤2µT.