The effect of magnetic interference by magnetic resonance imaging on programmable shunt valves in patients…

Systematic reviewFluids and barriers of the CNS· Aug 2026

The effect of magnetic interference by magnetic resonance imaging on programmable shunt valves in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

Virensinh Rathod, Darius Kalasauskas, Florian Ringel … Santhosh G Thavarajasingam

CerebrovascularSystematic reviewClinical practiceQ1IF 6.7

Magnetic resonance imaging required reprogramming of shunt valves in over 40% of hydrocephalus patients

The effect of magnetic interference by magnetic resonance imaging on programmable shunt valves in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

Virensinh Rathod … Santhosh G Thavarajasingam

Fluids and barriers of the CNS · Aug 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (normal pressure hydrocephalus) is a cause of neurological impairment, with programmable shunt valves serving as the standard treatment.

Methods

Conducted in adherence to PRISMA guidelines, an extensive literature search across PubMed and Embase databases from January 2000 to January 2025, was performed.

n = 11 studies

Results

Magnetic resonance imaging forced valve reprogramming in nearly half of patients at 1.5T

1.5T

44.2%

3T

55.2%

More results

The pooled analysis included 475 normal pressure hydrocephalus patients across 11 studies.

Valve type analysis revealed that the Codman Hakim valve exhibited the highest incidence of setting changes (37.05% at 3T).

However, differences in valve setting changes between manufacturers were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 3

Magnetic interference from magnetic resonance imaging can disrupt programmable shunt valves in normal pressure hydrocephalus patients.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

While 3T magnetic resonance imaging shows a slightly higher incidence of valve setting changes than 1.5T, the difference is not significant.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

Further research is required to assess long- term clinical implications and standardize magnetic resonance imaging protocols to mitigate variability in outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

The effect of magnetic interference by magnetic resonance imaging on programmable shunt valves in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

The effect of magnetic interference by magnetic resonance imaging on programmable shunt valves in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

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