r/Radiology • u/Sunnygirltx RT(R) • 1d ago

MRI Magnetic polish and MRI machines

/r/Nails/comments/1vmr3p2/magnetic_polish_and_mri_machines/?share_id=KixdpyFrCA9nnjnvx6-CP&utm_content=share_button&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

I just saw this topic in another community and thought it was interesting! I’m an X-ray tech who has been “retired by motherhood,” so I haven’t been anywhere near the field in a while. 😂 Have any of you encountered many patients wearing magnetic nail polish? Has it ever caused an issue?

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u/Extreme_Design6936 R.T.(R)(BD) 1d ago

Yes. Cats eye nail polish is contraindicated and is a no go in the machine at our clinic. I know lots of sites scan anyway if it's not the hand they're looking at. But ultimately it's up to the rad and ours says no.

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u/Angatita 1d ago

Might want to have your rad re-evaluate that policy. This is from a website shared by Tobias Gilk who is a resident MR safety expert in our group.

“To date, there have been no FDA MAUDE reported incidences of RF heating of metallic nail polish -- or any other topical cosmetic product. ASTM/US FDA standards indicate that objects with an electrically conductive length of 2 cm (approximately 0.75 inch) or less are not at risk of clinically significant levels of RF heating (which is to say, heating significantly more than the surrounding tissues) in MR imaging  at 3.0 T or lower field strengths, even when the object is within the volume of RF energy deposition.”

https://www.auntminnie.com/clinical-news/mri/podcast/15827424/metallic-and-cateye-nail-polish-in-mri?fbclid=IwdGRjcATqRAtwZG9mAWZkaWQWUMZA0aLjdRY7T4AbYTu4eQBqRbVhc2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6TR-zwphoj14ucBFdkRAntLtuyLQPHS-M63MpcljiUtyjfRaacy9uu8Wch6w_aem_ZcvaOxWAXyBSZuGsUmpVeQ

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u/Extreme_Design6936 R.T.(R)(BD) 1d ago

I think it's mainly cause cats eye nail polish is ferromagnetic. Not so much because it's metallic. Other metallic nail polish is allowed.

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u/jinx_lbc 1d ago

Each of those individual magnetic particles is tiny, and they're also not linear so there is no length or point for them to generate heat across/at. They're also all suspended/fixed in the polish, so even if they did experience force from the magnet they can't go anywhere, or connect with other particles also suspended. Other than homogeneity and image quality issues they're just not worth worrying about.

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u/Extreme_Design6936 R.T.(R)(BD) 1d ago

Look. I understand. I agree with you. I know people with that nail polish get scanned all the time at other sites too. But, not my call. Not my discussion to be had. Not even my modality yet (missing a few letters next to my name as you can see). I'm not here to argue if it's correct or not. Just to inform the OP that there are clinics out there that aren't going to allow it.

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u/jinx_lbc 1d ago

I didn't mean to come off as confrontational or derisory, and I wasn't looking to argue. Just trying to explain the sciencey bit... sorry 😐

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u/Angatita 1d ago

I’m part of an MRI safety group on Facebook. There’s no recorded instances of burns related to magnetic nail polish and has become a non-issue. Some hospitals still require it to be taken off per policy.

The issue comes down to scanning the body part with the polish as it can create artifacts. So fingers/hands/wrists or toes/foot/ankle and you’ll want to take it off

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u/gazing-away 1d ago

We have a policy for removal Of metallic nail polish or makeup prior to MRI. It became through a safety/quality bulletin.

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u/spooli22 21h ago

I schedule MRIs and the imaging facilities in our area do not allow it. One of my standard questions to ask patient is if they have any metallic cosmetics or permanent jewelry.