Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA)
MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography)
What To Think About
- While MRA is a safe and valuable test for looking at blood vessels inside the body, it is more expensive than other imaging techniques, and it may not be available in all medical centers.
- An advantage of MRA is that no radiation is involved.
- Open MRI machines are now made so that the magnet does not completely surround you. Open MRI is useful for people who are claustrophobic or obese. However, these machines are not available everywhere. Also, these machines may not be able to do all the studies needed to check for problems.
- Conventional angiogram or computerized tomography angiogram (CT angiogram) may be done to double check abnormal results found during MRA, especially if surgery is being considered to treat the problem.
- MRA results may indicate an aneurysm is present when it is not (false-positive). It may also show no aneurysm when one is present (false-negative). MRA is most accurate for larger blood vessels.
- You may need to wait for 6 weeks before having an MRA if you have had a stent put in your coronary arteries. This helps decrease the chances of movement of the stent by the magnet used in the MRA.
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| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: July 24, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine George Philippides, MD - Cardiology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
 | What To Think About |
| References | |
| Credits | |