MRI for overweight people

Introduction

Over the last decades, the proportion of overweight people in Germany and the industrial nations has increased continuously. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately 15% of Germans suffer from obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2). As a result, there are more and more challenges in health care.

There are mainly problems in imaging diagnostics, as the technical requirements place limits on the design of diagnostic equipment. As a result, new MRI devices have been developed in recent years, which, thanks to their larger diameter, make it possible to examine overweight people. The development of MRI devices open on one side also contributes to this.

Up to what height can I have an MRI?

In principle, an MRI examination is possible for almost any body size and weight. However, since the individual MRI devices differ greatly in their design, the physician should be informed about height and weight before the examination in order to be able to assess whether imaging is possible with the existing MRI devices. Otherwise one can be referred to another clinic or practice.

The standard MRI devices used today usually have a length of 120 to 150cm and a diameter of the tube of 50 to 60cm. In addition, in recent years devices with a diameter of up to 70cm have come onto the market. The maximum weight for which the MRI tables are designed varies greatly and ranges approximately between 150 and 300kg.

Open MRI devices (open on one side) therefore allow a better examination depending on the problem. Often only the body part to be examined is moved into the area of the C-shaped magnet. Due to the use of a weaker magnetic field, however, the image quality is weaker than with closed MRI devices, which is why open MRI devices are not suitable for investigating all clinical issues. The editorial staff also recommends:

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