Heart MRI
The heart or cardiac MRI is a procedure which can depict all layers of the heart without the use of x-rays or radioactive substances. It displays the beating heart in motion, which permits a precise evaluation of its wall motility and pumping function.
With the aid of special MRI techniques requiring an intravenous contrast medium, tissue attributes can be made visible. Conclusions may possibly be drawn from these concerning inflammations of the heart muscle or a previous heart attack. Modern MRI devices with high temporal resolution permit the observation of the flow of the contrast medium to all wall regions of the heart. This allows the evaluation of the regional heart blood circulation. With the aid of a medication given during the procedure, the physician can induce an artificial stress situation in the heart in which circulatory disturbances in the coronary arteries often become apparent for the first time. This procedure is called an MRI stress test.
Applications of heart MRI
- evaluation of function
- heart muscle weakness
- coronary heart disease
- infarction imaging
- heart muscle inflammation
- heart valve defects
- congenital heart defects
This section is dedicated to the possibilities and special features of a heart examination using MRI. In the event that such a procedure has been scheduled for you, please see our section on general advice pertaining to MRI preparation and the MRI stress test.
