About Miranda Szopinska, M.D. Expertise I can answer any questions relating to the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. I
am a medical doctor with a background in pathobiology and bacteriology. I currently work
in diagnostics, and specialize in the identification and treatment of serious illnesses. I
have spent time in China working with epidemiologists researching SARS. I am fluent in
English, Polish, Spanish, Mandarin, and Hindi.
Experience I am a medical doctor with a background in pathobiology and bacteriology. I currently work in diagnostics, and specialize in the identification and treatment of serious illnesses. I have spent time in China working with epidemiologists researching SARS.
Education/Credentials I have an MD and PhD of Medicine from Northwestern University, as well as a Master's Degree in bacteriology from Poznan University of Medical Sciences.
Expert: Miranda Szopinska, M.D. Date: 12/28/2007 Subject: Hemachromatosis
Question I am a 36 yo male of European descent and I was diagnosed with hereditary hemachromatosis last year. My total iron is 234 mcg/dl, iron binding capacity is 249 mcg/dl, % iron saturation is 94% and ferritin level is 945 ng/ml. I had an MRI last week and during the test I experienced pain in my skull and torso. The only way I can describe it is it felt as if my organs were being pulled. This pain/sensation was experienced to greater and lesser degrees during the scan. I had an MRI about 10 years ago and I felt absolutely nothing during that scan. My question is: Can iron be deposited in the organs in quantites sufficient to cause them to be physically moved when exposed to the magnetic field induced by an MRI (like a needle being attracted to a magnet)?
Answer Hi,
Because of the magnetic properties of iron, it is very possible that the pain you felt was because of the buildup of iron in the tissues of your organs. As the disease progresses, more and more iron will build up in your tissues (I'm assuming you have Type I haemochromatosis). The higher the saturation of iron in your tissues, the stronger the pull of magnetism (although your organs were not likely physically moved; they were just "tugged" toward the magnet). If you went into an MRI wearing any sort of piercing, for example, it would be ripped out because of the magnet. The effect on your iron-saturated tissues is similar, but less so. You should address this with your doctor next time they try to give you an MRI; next time the pain may be worse. I hope I was able to help! Good luck!
