MR Angiogram Chest with And without Contrast
About Test
MR Angiogram chest is a non-invasive imaging test to visualize the blood vessels running through your chest. MR angiogram uses a magnetic field, the energy of radio waves, and a computer to create images of blood vessels and blood flow in the body. Contrast is a special dye that is used to enhance image quality. A gadolinium-based contrast may or may not be used for this procedure. Through this technique, a doctor can visualize the diseases/conditions affecting the thoracic aorta and other blood vessels in the chest.
Why and when do you need this test?
Your doctor may advise this test if he suspects a blood vessel disease in light of your signs and symptoms. For example, an MRA can identify a blocked vessel by an atherosclerotic plaque or a ruptured blood vessel. It can also show structural abnormalities of blood vessels like congenital malformations, aneurysms (dilatation), stenosis (narrowing), dissection (splitting), or the presence of emboli, etc.
Your doctor may advise an MRA chest for the following reasons:
- Difficulty breathing and Chest pain (suggesting blood clots in the lungs)
- Progressive or persistent cough
- Trauma or injury to the chest
- To identify birth defects in the blood vessels
- Suspected inflammation of the blood vessels
- Suspected tear in the aorta (dissection)
- For evaluation before a planned procedure or surgery related to chest
Do you need to prepare for the test?
- For the MR angiogram with contrast, you will be requested to stop eating 3-4 hours before the test.
- You can drink clear fluids and take regular medications normally unless your doctor advises otherwise.
- Since the test uses a magnetic field, you may need to tell the doctor if you have any metal implants, pacemakers, or prostheses in your body and bring detailed information about them.
- You would be asked not to wear any jewelry or watches or not bring keys, credit cards, or ATM cards.
- You would be asked to wear easy clothing to feel comfortable or given a hospital gown for the proper exposure of the area.
What can you expect?
- For an MR angiogram with contrast, the nurse will prick a vein in your hand or arm to establish a cannula to inject the contrast material.
- No contrast material is given in MRA without contrast.
- You will be asked to lie down on the table that will slide into the MRA machine that looks like a large tunnel.
- You would be requested to lie down still and avoid movements to prevent the images from getting blurry.
- If you feel uneasy in closed spaces, you may tell your doctor, and he may give you relaxing medicine.
- Inside the machine, you will hear tapping or snapping noises.
- The test will last for about 15-20 minutes.
- You will be able to return to your daily activities normally after the test.
Are there any risks to this test?
It is a safe and painless test that uses gadolinium-based contrast material that is less allergenic than iodine material used in CT scans.
What do the test results mean?
An MRA chest may show the following disorders:
- Superior vena cava blockage
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Aortic aneurysm (dilatation)
- Aortic dissection (tear)
- Vasculitis (Takayasu's arteritis)
- Aortic coarctation
- Pulmonary vascular stenosis
Related Tests
- CT angiogram chest
- chest x-ray
- cardiac CT (computed tomography).
- Aortography.
- Pulmonary Angiography
Frequently ordered together
CT Angiogram Thoracic Aorta and Chest
CT Chest without Contrast
CT Chest High Resolution without Contrast
CT Chest And Upper Abdomen without Contrast
CT Chest with Contrast
CT Chest with & without Contrast
MR Angiogram Chest with And without Contrast
MRI Chest With Contrast
MRI CHEST WITHOUT CONTRAST
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