Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging gives detailed examination of the heart and is safer for the patient than standard techniques.

In cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), scans of the heart are taken to the rhythm of the heartbeat. The resulting set of high quality images can be used to investigate a wide range of heart problems - from heart valve abnormalities to atherosclerosis.

The Alliance Medical Imaging Centre in London has one of the few CMR systems in the UK. Unlike computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET), CMR uses no X-rays or radioactivity and so is much safer for the patient. It can also give information on coronary arteries similar to that obtained from angiography, but without the risks of the patient.

CMR is similar to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that is well established for investigation of other conditions, such as joint problems and neurological conditions. It relies on the magnetic properties of the water within the tissues of the body. CMR is the new generation of magnetic resonance and, it is hoped, will become the preferred tool for cardiac investigation in the future - giving the patient a combination of safety and excellent diagnostic image quality. Location of CMR in the Alliance Medical Imaging Centre is an important boost for the UK, which has fewer standard MRI scanners per head than any other European country. And the US has 6284 MRI scanners, compared to only an estimated 300 to 350 MRI scanners in Britain.

Source

Alliance Medical Imaging Centre 24th June 2003