New study reveals hidden danger inside MRI scans

You probably know someone who’s had an injury and needed an MRI to find out what was wrong. The technique is especially common among injured athletes trying to understand the extent of damage to a joint.

What happens in an MRI?

The procedure is simple enough – you lie inside the machine for about 30 minutes, endure the loud, thudding noise, and wait a couple of days for your specialist to deliver the results. Although it may seem straightforward, some people experience unexpected side effects.

In certain cases, patients report unusual symptoms. These are increasingly being linked to gadolinium, a metal used to create contrast in MRI images. When gadolinium interacts with the human body, it can sometimes provoke a reaction.

Is an MRI safe?

Although generally considered safe, new research suggests that the interaction between gadolinium and oxalic acid – which is found in foods like spinach, blueberries, or vitamin C – can produce gadolinium oxalate compounds. These can penetrate cells and build up in tissues.

If levels become too high, this accumulation can lead to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a condition that can damage organs – and in extreme cases, prove fatal.

“The worst disease caused by MRI contrast agents is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis,” says Dr Brent Wagner, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and lead author of the study, which was published in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

“Some people have died after receiving just a single dose,” he warns. The disease can cause skin thickening, joint stiffness, and harm internal organs such as the heart and lungs.

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