What are the major advantages of cardiac MRI?
Note: these advantages are largely potential advantages, and won t be realized until technology currently being tested becomes more refined and widespread: – MRI has the potential of replacing at least 4 other cardiac tests: the echocardiogram, the MUGA scan, the thallium scan, and diagnostic cardiac catheterization – MRI does not involve exposing the patient to ionizing (potentially harmful) radiation, as do most non-invasive cardiac imaging tests (the exception being the echocardiogram) – The images generated by MRI are remarkably complete, detailed and precise far more so than other cardiac imaging tests. What are the disadvantages of cardiac MRI? – Being placed in the MRI scanner can induce significant claustrophobia in about 5% of patients – It is difficult to monitor patients while they are in the MRI scanner for one thing, the ECG is significantly distorted so this technique is not suitable for patients who are critically ill. – Patients with certain kinds of medical devices pac
