Heart MRI

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is one of the most important imaging techniques for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders. It is based on the use of a strong magnetic field and radio waves for the composition of images of the heart and chest, whereas processing of the captured images is performed with the use of a special software installed in a computer. Most of the time, during the examination, a contrast agent is administered (gadolinium) in order to take more information by the imaged.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a specialized imaging examination of the cardiovascular system, which gives us high-quality and high-resolution images, so as to be able to study more thoroughly the cardiovascular disorders. It does not expose the patient to radiation and additionally the drug that is used as contrast agent has the fewest side effects of all the other contrast agents that are used in other imaging methods.

Advantages:

Modern cardiac imaging technique
Reliable
Safe / without radiation
Painless / bloodless
No special preparation is needed
It is applied to all patients with cardiovascular disorders *

* except the patients with non-compatible pacemakers – defibrillators, allergy to the contrast agent, end-stage renal insufficiency

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Indications

Coronary artery disease: Assessment of ischemic lesions, of myocardial viability and hypomotility. Evaluation of myocardial ischemia after pharmacological stress test. Coronary vessel anatomy.
Myocarditis: Viral myocarditis (Selection Examination), myocardial involvement in rheumatic diseases
Myocardial mass and cardiac anatomy study: high resolution images
Anatomy of large vessels – aortic aneurysms
Assessment of natural and prosthetic valves: Precise quantification of leaks, reliable valve planimetry
Diagnosis of myocardial and large vessel inflammation
Detection of iron deposition on myocardium
Study of cardiac tumors (primary – secondary)
Monitoring of pericardial diseases
Volumetry and contractility of cardiac cavities (Gold Standard)
Investigation of heart failure causes
Diagnosis – monitoring of cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, Non-Compaction, Takotsubo etc)
Study of operated for congenital heart disease adults
Study of right cardiac cavities

Evaluation of myocardial ischemia with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Stress Perfusion CMR)

The evaluation of myocardial ischemia with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is based on a quick protocol which gives us information for the myocardial ischemia and also for its viability. This examination is based on a special program available in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner of Metropolitan General. During the examination we can evaluate, in real-time, the myocardial perfusion in stress conditions. The concept of this technique is similar to myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, however, because of the fact that is performed with the assistance of magnetic resonance imaging, it does not expose the patient to radiation, being more reliable than the usual scintigraphy, as it gives us images of higher resolution and it lasts only 25 minutes.

Also, since we are talking about cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, this protocol not only detects the existence or not of ischemia in myocardium, but it is also capable to give answers for any cause hiding behind patient’s complaints, even if these are not coming from myocardial ischemia.

Specialized assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability with:

Reliability: stronger reliability than scintigraphy, stress echo and stress test. Equivalent to ffr-coronography

Speed: duration 25 minutes

Comfort: Pharmacological stress

Safety: No exposure of the patient to radiation

Differential diagnosis: of ischemia from microvascular angina, pericarditis, extracardiac causes of precordial pain etc.