Final answer:
Prior to entering an MRI Suite, every person is screened for the presence of metallic implants or objects due to the powerful magnetic field used during MRI scanning, which can dislodge or affect metal items.
Step-by-step explanation:
Every person is screened for metallic implants and objects before they may enter an MRI Suite. Due to the powerful electromagnetic field used during an MRI scan, it is essential to ensure that no metal is present on or inside the patient that could be affected by the magnet. This includes personal items such as jewelry, as well as internal metallic items like certain prosthetic devices, pacemakers, or metal clips from brain surgery.
An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, employs a large magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body’s organs and tissues. The screening process is critical because the magnetic field created by the MRI can cause metal objects to move, potentially causing harm to the patient or affecting the MRI machine's functionality. Moreover, some medical implants like pacemakers can malfunction in the presence of a strong magnetic field, hence individuals with such implants are usually precluded from having an MRI unless the device is deemed MRI-safe.