Cardiac MRI

This makes a Cardiac MRI an invaluable tool in the early diagnosis and evaluation of cardiac abnormalities, especially those involving the heart muscle.

Cardiac MRI helps:

• evaluate the anatomy (structure) and function of the heart chambers, valves, major vessels, and surrounding structures such as the pericardium (the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the heart)
• diagnose a variety of cardiovascular (heart and/or blood vessel) disorders such as tumours, infections, and inflammatory conditions
• detect and evaluate the effects of coronary artery disease such as limited blood flow to the heart muscle and scarring within the heart muscle after a heart attack
• plan a patient’s treatment for cardiovascular disorders
• monitor a patient’s progression over time
• evaluate the anatomy of the heart and blood vessels in children with congenital (present from birth) heart disease.

Using cardiac MRI, doctors can:

• examine the size of the heart chambers and the thickness of the heart wall
• determine the extent of myocardial (heart muscle) damage and the effect on pump function caused by a heart attack or progressive heart disease
• detect the build-up of plaque and blockages in blood vessels
• assess a patient’s recovery following treatment
• evaluate the heart anatomy, pump function, heart valve function and vascular blood flow both before and after surgical repair of congenital cardiovascular disease in children and adults.