Which of the following represents the largest ferrous threat at a magnetic field strength of 1.5T?

The presence of an aneurysm clip in a patient, particularly in an unresponsive 91-year-old, poses the largest ferrous threat at a magnetic field strength of 1.5T. Aneurysm clips are typically made from ferromagnetic materials, which can respond to magnetic fields and may be dislodged or moved when exposed to such fields. This can lead to serious complications, including damage to surrounding tissues or vessels, or even catastrophic results like stroke or hemorrhage.

In contrast, while cobalt stents, wedding rings, and metal shavings also represent potential hazards, they generally pose a lower risk in a magnetic field of this strength. Cobalt stents are often made of non-ferromagnetic materials and are designed to be safe in an MRI environment, though not all are MRI-compatible. A wedding ring, typically made of gold or platinum, is also non-ferromagnetic and thus poses minimal risk. Metal shavings could vary in composition, but unless they are ferrous, their potential danger is significantly less than that of an aneurysm clip.

Thus, the aneurysm clip is particularly concerning due to the risk associated with its magnetic properties and the critical nature of the vascular structures it is designed to address, making it the largest