Upcoming MRI scan on my shoulder. Will they need to be informed about my Implant?

[epicjohn]

Because of an injury of my shoulder(caused in the gym), I need to have a MRI scan. To be honest I feel really really uncomfortable if the whole team there will need to be informed or will see my penile implant. Also because I’m still really young. It’s only my shoulder but maybe my whole body will be scanned. Does anyone has experience with an MRI and an implant?

Am I supposed to inform the doctors about my implant? Please try to understand that i still feel some type of shame about this whole thing. Would be good if I could hear some experiences.

[dg_moore]

Seems unlikely. When they do MRI's they focus on the area of the problem. Your crotch is nowhere near your shoulder, presumably. There's not much likelihood of your implant coming within range. Even if it were to, most if not all implants are MRI safe. I had a hip MRI and my implant did not appear in the scan.

[MK1965]

MRI screening questionnaire asks about any implants in the body?
Just mention IPP and you won’t have any problems.
I already had 3 MRI since implanted.
MK

[Lost Sheep]

Because of an injury of my shoulder(caused in the gym), I need to have a MRI scan. To be honest I feel really really uncomfortable if the whole team there will need to be informed or will see my penile implant. Also because I’m still really young. It’s only my shoulder but maybe my whole body will be scanned. Does anyone has experience with an MRI and an implant?

Am I supposed to inform the doctors about my implant? Please try to understand that i still feel some type of shame about this whole thing. Would be good if I could hear some experiences.

Yes. Tell them.

I had my hand scanned. I told them. They looked up the model in their reference manuals and gave me the OK. I also tell them about my rotator cuff surgeries because there are screws in the bone.

They also ask if I ever had any foreign (metal) bodies like metal splinters, particularly in my eyes.

Better safe than sorry. Imagine what might happen if there were parts of an implant that were affected by the magnetic field.

It would be VERY BAD indeed if an MRI machine were to drag anything out of those particular parts of your body - or any other parts.

On the other hand, especially if you are squeamish, it might be better if you DIDN'T imagine what that might feel like.

[Quester]

Yes tell them. I’ve had several MRIs after I got my implant. It was never an issue neither is the hardware in my foot.
Even my body piercings have been ok for short ones but I guess the MRI can cause certain metals to heat up so took them out for my last MRI since it as going to be long session about 90 minutes in my lower back and hips.

[SW0110]

Yep tell them. It should be on checklist. No big deal. They see everything.

[Bandit]

Agreed. Better to suffer a little embarrassment than to have something happen. As stated above they can look up your implant model to insure it wont be an issue. Shouldnt be as implants are MRI safe. I have had one done and when you tell the radiologist they dont bat an eye. They are professionals and have heard it all and then some. Tell them for sure !
Bandit

[TANGERINE]

agree that the center should have no issues with penile prosthesis (they have seen that before).

But just in case, it would be helpful if you brought the following mri letter from AMS/boston scientific) (see attached).

For those of you who have coloplast, I asked Dr eid this question a few years ago after i had surgery, and he mentioned that he has both the AMS MRI safety letter and the coloplast safety letter on his web site at the following location:


https://www.urologicalcare.com/patient-resources/ed-pdf-forms-information/

(Dr Eid's mri safety letter pdf files are availbale at the bottom of the list of patient resources)

[DougAnd]

Yes tell them but there is no metal in your IPP so they will do nothing different. I've had my IPP scanned after a car accident.

[TANGERINE]

I went to get a prostate MRI today, and I thought you should know about things you can do to make the MRI experience go better.

I discuss all this in my implant pamphlet mini-book here on franktalk

essentially, the advice is:

1) bring the letter from coloplast or AMS which states that the implant is safe
2) try to have a copy of your operative report, or the wallet card for your implant or a copy of the manufacturer device registration sheet which the surgery center sent to your manufacturer

With the above two things, my MRI tech was very happy, and went ahead to get me through to the 3 tesla MRI

the URL for the implant panmplet here on franktalk is:
https://www.franktalk.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16298&p=146385&hilit=wiki#p146385