Which situation increases the chance of burns during an MRI procedure?

Burns during MRI procedures can arise from various factors related to the interaction of radiofrequency (RF) energy with the body's tissues and equipment. Each of the described situations contributes to an increased risk of burns.

Skin-to-skin contact can result in burns due to the formation of a conductive pathway between areas of the skin, which can lead to overheating. When two skin surfaces touch, the RF energy can create a situation where heat is generated at the interface, increasing the susceptibility to burns.

Loops in equipment or tissues can also enhance the risk of burns. Loops can act as antennas, amplifying the RF energy and consequently increasing the amount of heat generated in that region. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in conductive materials such as certain wires or loops formed by the patient's body tissues.

Tissue contact with the gantry is another factor that can lead to burns. Direct contact with the MRI machine's components, which can be metallic or otherwise conductive, may result in localized heating. This can be exacerbated by factors such as the presence of RF coils in the vicinity of the gantry, where the interaction of RF energy with tissues in close proximity can lead to thermal injuries.

Since all these scenarios pose a risk for heating and thus the potential for burns, it