Author: Cecile Herate#1, Patricia Brochard#1, Florent De Vathaire2,3,4, Michelle Ricoul1, Bernadette Martins5, Laurence Laurier5, Jean-Robert Deverre5, Bertrand Thirion5, Lucie Hertz-Pannier5, Laure Sabatier6,7
Affiliation:
1 PROCyTox, DRF, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Paris-Saclay University, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
2 National Institute for Health and Medical Research, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), INSERM U1018, Radiation Epidemiology Teams, Villejuif, France.
3 Institute Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
4 University Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France.
5 CEA/DRF/IJ/Neurospin/UNIACT, and UMR1141, Inserm, Paris University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
6 PROCyTox, DRF, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Paris-Saclay University, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. laure.sabatier@cea.fr.
7 CEA/DRF/DIREI Research Infrastructures Europe and International Fundamental Research Division, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Paris-Saclay University, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France. laure.sabatier@cea.fr.
Conference/Journal: Eur Radiol Exp
Date published: 2022 Mar 3
Other:
Volume ID: 6 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 12 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s41747-022-00264-2. , Word Count: 248
Background:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently considered a safe imaging technique because, unlike computed tomography, MRI does not expose patients to ionising radiation. However, conflicting literature reports possible genotoxic effects of MRI. We herein examine the chromosomal effects of repeated MRI scans by performing a longitudinal follow-up of chromosomal integrity in volunteers.
Methods:
This ethically approved study was performed on 13 healthy volunteers (mean age 33 years) exposed to up to 26 3-T MRI sessions. The characterisation of chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed using the gold-standard biodosimetry technique augmented with telomere and centromere staining.
Results:
Cytogenetic analysis showed no detectable effect after a single MRI scan. However, repeated MRI sessions (from 10 to 20 scans) were associated with a small but significant increase in chromosomal breaks with the accumulation of cells with chromosomal terminal deletions with a coefficient of 9.5% (95% confidence interval 6.5-12.5%) per MRI (p < 0.001). Additional exposure did not result in any further increase. This plateauing of damage suggests lymphocyte turnover. Additionally, there was no significant induction of dicentric chromosomes, in contrast to what is observed following exposure to ionising radiation.
Conclusions:
Our study showed that MRI can affect chromosomal integrity. However, the amount of damage per cell might be so low that no chromosomal rearrangement by fusion of two deoxyribonucleic breaks is induced, unlike that seen after exposure to computed tomography. This study confirms that MRI is a safe imaging technique.
Keywords: Centromere; Chromosome aberrations; Cytogenetic analysis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Telomere.
PMID: 35237875 DOI: 10.1186/s41747-022-00264-2
