MRI safety: What patients need to disclose about implants, pregnancy, and tattoos

MRI scans are generally safe but require patient disclosure of implants, pregnancy, kidney disease, and tattoos due to magnetic field risks. Patients must inform doctors about pacemakers, surgeries, implants, pregnancy, kidney disease, allergies, hearing devices, tattoos, or metal injuries before an MRI. MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves, not radiation, and many modern implants are MRI-compatible, though screening remains crucial.