FDA Warns Against Use of Face Masks With Metal During MRI

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning against the use of face masks containing metal during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. According to the FDA, metal parts such as nose pieces or metal-containing antimicrobial coatings may heat up and burn the patient during an MRI.

For health care practitioners who perform MRI exams, the FDA recommends:

• Screening all patients for safety purposes and checking for any metallic objects before beginning an MRI.
• Reporting to the FDA if a patient experiences a burn or related adverse event while wearing a face mask during an MRI exam.

The FDA also notes that, if a patient must wear a face mask but the health care practitioner is unable to confirm the absence of metal, using an alternative mask in which the absence of metal can be confirmed is recommended.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:
Wear face masks with no metal during MRI exams: FDA safety communication. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. December 7, 2020. Accessed December 8, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/wear-face-masks-no-metal-during-mri-exams-fda-safety-communication