generally speaking having an implanted pacemaker does not absolutely rule you out as a candidate for mri. that said there are many variables to be considered before a person with a cardiac pacemaker is ever subjected to a magnetic resonance imaging exam. some of the risks to the patient undergoing mri with a cardiac pacemaker include soft tissue injury and de-programming of the pacemaker. obviously either of these can be life-threatening. studies have shown some newer pacemaker models resist de-programming better than older models. nonetheless mri generally should not be undertaken on a patient with a pacemaker unless there is a skilled staff member on hand who can re-program the pacemaker if it gets de-programmed during the test. mri is a great test for some things but it often can be replaced by a combination of various other imaging tests such as ct scan plus x-ray. bottom line? this is a question for you and your cardiologist to decide. only your cardiologist can determine whether or not it is safe for you to undergo an mri test with a cardiac pacemaker. wishing you well!
should i get a m. r. i. if i have a pacemaker?