Magnetic resonance angiography

You may be asked to wear a hospital gown. You can also wear clothing without metal fasteners (such as sweatpants and a t-shirt). Certain types of metal can cause blurry images. You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. Some exams require a special dye (contrast). Most often, the…

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before the scan. Tell your health care provider if you are afraid of close spaces (have claustrophobia). You may be given a medicine to help you feel sleepy and less anxious. Your provider may suggest an "open" MRI. In an open MRI, the machine is not as…

An MRA exam causes no pain. If you have problems lying still or are very nervous, you may be given a medicine (sedative) to relax you. Moving too much can blur images and cause errors. The table may be hard or cold, but you can ask for a blanket or pillow. The machine produces loud thumping and humming noises when…

MRA is used to look at the blood vessels in all parts of the body. The test may be done of the head, heart, abdomen, lungs, kidneys, and legs. It may be used to diagnose or evaluate conditions such as: Arterial aneurysm (an abnormal widening or ballooning of a part of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood…

A normal result means the blood vessels do not show any signs of narrowing or blockage.

An abnormal result suggests a problem with one or more blood vessels. This may suggest: Atherosclerosis Trauma Congenital disease Other vascular condition

MRA is generally safe. It uses no radiation. To date, no side effects from the magnetic fields and radio waves have been reported. The most common type of contrast used contains gadolinium. It is very safe. Allergic reactions to the substance rarely occur. However, gadolinium can be harmful to people with kidney…

Carpenter JP, Litt H, Gowda M. Magnetic resonance imaging and arteriography. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 30. Kwong RY. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt…