FDA Updates Info on CT/Device Interference

FDA says it has received reports of adverse effects and has updated its recommendations involving CT scans when patients have insulin pumps, cardiac implantable electronic devices, or neurostimulators. An agency Web site says that while most patients undergo CT scans without any adverse consequences, FDA has received a small number of reports of adverse events believed to be associated with CT imaging of some implantable and wearable electronic devices.

“Our current understanding is that when a CT scanner directly irradiates the circuitry of certain implantable or wearable electronic medical devices (i.e. when the device is visible in the resulting CT image), it can cause sufficient electronic interference to affect the function and operation of the medical device,” the page says. It notes that the probability that the interference can cause clinically significant adverse events is extremely low.

The page includes specific recommendations for each of the three cited devices.