MRI Safety with Penile Implants
Yes, you can safely have an MRI with a modern penile implant, as currently no manufacturers in the United States produce penile implants that have MRI contraindications. 1
Safety of Penile Implants in MRI
Modern penile prostheses are generally MRI-compatible and considered safe for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. According to the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines:
- An ex-vivo MRI study of nine different types of penile prosthetics found that only the OmniPhase device showed movement/deflection in a 1.5 Tesla MRI 1
- No movement or deflections were noted with 3-piece inflatable devices 1
- The OmniPhase and Duraphase prostheses (previously manufactured by Dacomed and Endocare respectively) were not MRI compatible, but these are no longer marketed 1
Important Considerations
When preparing for an MRI with a penile implant:
- Inform your healthcare providers: Always tell your radiologist and MRI technicians about your penile implant before the procedure 1
- Bring documentation: Current manufacturers provide wallet cards and medical letters that confirm MRI safety for their devices 2
- Know your implant type: Different types of penile prostheses (malleable vs. inflatable) have different imaging characteristics 3
MRI Benefits for Penile Implant Assessment
MRI can actually be beneficial for patients with penile implants when there are concerns about the device:
- MRI is considered the most valuable method for diagnosing penile prosthesis complications 4
- It can detect prosthesis malrotation, angulation, displacement, and erosion 5
- MRI is superior to other imaging methods in defining soft tissue contrast and demonstrating penile anatomy in three orthogonal planes 4
Potential Risks and Precautions
While modern penile implants are generally MRI-safe, there are some precautions:
- MRI is contraindicated for patients with ferromagnetic implants due to risks of movement, dislodgement, electrical current induction, excessive heating, or image artifacts 1
- If you have an older or uncommon penile implant model, additional verification of MRI compatibility may be needed
- Some specific models like the Spectra device by AMS are considered "MRI-conditional" rather than fully MRI-compatible 2
Conclusion
If you have a modern penile implant from a major manufacturer in the United States, you should be able to safely undergo MRI scanning. However, always inform your healthcare providers about your implant before any imaging procedure to ensure proper safety protocols are followed.