Pregnant women should avoid having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test unless absolutely necessary, because risk to the developing fetus is unknown.

Patients with tattoos or permanent makeup are encouraged to consult with their physician before an MRI is performed. These patients might feel some mild discomfort or a burning feeling on their skin due to a reaction between iron oxide or other metallic substances commonly found in the darker inks of the tattoo and the magnetic field generated during the test. Furthermore, large or very dark tattoos can cause “artifacts,” or false shadows to appear on the film produced from the test.

If the MRI involves injection of a contrast medium, there is the possibility of a reaction. An individual may experience nausea, headache or pain at the site of injection.