Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Cardiac MRI
Rhode Island Hospital is now offering a cardiac MRI program as
a valuable diagnostic tool. Cardiac MRI has advantages over traditional
methods for diagnosing heart problems, such as echocardiograms,
nuclear medicine studies and CT scans.
It is a safer method because it produces no ionizing radiation.
It allows for three-dimensional imaging, and its contrast agent
has a very safe profile. Avances in the hardware and pulse sequence
design allow radiologists to have high temporal resolution, allowing
them to view something moving quickly, and no other technology allows
a radiologist to visualize a heart attack and pinpoint its size
and location.
The use of cardiac MRI provides remarkably clear and detailed
images, including the:
- size and thickness of the chambers of the heart
- extent of damage caused by a heart attack or progressive heart
disease
- build-up of plaque and blockages in the blood vessels, making
it an invaluable tool for detecting and evaluating coronary artery
disease
- function of the heart muscles, valves and vessels through movie-like
images of the beating heart that doctors can then use to diagnose
a variety of cardiovascular problems that may not have been previously
detected.
After a heart attack an MRI examination can help the cardiologist
understand how well the heart is pumping, whether the flow of blood
is blocked in any chamber or major vessel, if the heart muscles
are damaged, or if the lining of the heart is swelling.
It allows physicians to:
- Look closely at the structures and function of the heart and
major vessels quickly and thoroughly, without utilizing more invasive
procedures.
- Obtain critical information needed to administer prompt and
effective treatment.
- Offer earlier diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and assess
recovery after treatment.
For more information about MRI
at Rhode Island Hospital, call 401-444-4881 or e-mail JVolpe@lifespan.org.
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