What is a Cardiac MRI?
A cardiac MRI is an imaging scan that uses radio and powerful magnetic waves to create pictures of different heart structures. This scan can show different heart structures, including the heart valves, chambers, and muscles, and how well they work. Cardiac MRI provides two or three-dimensional pictures of the arteries and veins that help doctors determine cardiac health.
What conditions does a cardiac MRI diagnose?
Your healthcare provider may recommend a cardiac MRI to detect any problems related to the heart, such as:
- Cause of chest pain
- Thickening of your heart muscles
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Heart muscle damage
- Heart disease
- An enlarged heart
- Congenital heart disease
- Cancer
- Abnormal deposition of iron in the heart
- Narrowed or inflamed aorta
- Disease affecting the pericardium
When do doctors recommend a Cardiac MRI?
Usually, doctors recommend a cardiac MRI to analyse the different heart structures and their functions. There are other reasons in which you may need a cardiac MRI, such as:
- Check for damages caused by a heart attack
- Identify a location which needs to be treated during an ablation
- Analyse how well the treatment is helping the heart
- Plan a procedure or treatment for the heart
- Analyse the success of the recent heart surgery
- Check how much a disease or disorder has affected the heart
How is the cardiac MRI performed?
A radiologist or an MRI expert will perform the MRI scan. You will need to lie down on your back on a table that slides down the MRI machine. You will need to lie still during the whole scan procedure. During the scan, the magnetic waves may produce a loud sound, but you can be able to contact the technician operating the machine. You might be given a contrast agent through an intravenous line in your hand, which helps provide better-quality pictures.
What do abnormal cardiac MRI scan results mean?
Abnormal scan results may indicate a range of conditions, such as:
- Heart valve disorders
- Tumour of the blood vessels or around the heart
- Atrial myxoma
- Congenital heart disease
- Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart
- Damage to the heart muscle which can be found after a heart attack
- Infiltration of the heart muscle due to unusual substances
- Weakening of the heart muscle (usually due to sarcoidosis or amyloidosis)
However, consult with the doctors for a better understanding of your scan results.
Fortunately, you can easily book a Cardiac MRI in Gurgaon because there are multiple Cardiac MRI centres in Gurgaon. So you don’t need to worry about its availability. The Cardiac MRI cost in Gurgaon may vary depending on the type of mammogram testing you opt for. Generally, Cardiac MRI prices in Gurgaon start from rupees 9500 only.
Frequently asked questions about Cardiac MRI Scan
What is a cardiac MRI?
A cardiac MRI is a non-invasive imaging scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce high-quality images of the heart structures including the valves, chambers and muscles.
When do doctors recommend a cardiac MRI?
Healthcare providers usually recommend cardiac MRI to determine the cause of the chest pain. However, you may also need a cardiac MRI to evaluate the success of a recent surgery, plan a procedure or treatment, and check how a disorder has affected the heart.
How long does a cardiac MRI take?
The whole procedure of a cardiac MRI may take 30-60 minutes.
Can a cardiac MRI detect heart bloakage?
Yes, a cardiac MRI can detect blockages in the larger section of the coronary arteries.
Does the chest MRI use a contrast agent?
The chest MRI can be performed with or without the contrast agent. Your doctor will suggest whether you need a contrast dye.