What is mra stand for?

You’ve probably heard about the test called magnetic resonance imaging or MRI. In this test, radio waves, a magnetic field, and a computer create a scan of your body parts to look for health problems.

Magnetic resonance angiography–also called a magnetic resonance angiogram or MRA–is a type of MRI that looks specifically at the body’s blood vessels. Unlike a traditional angiogram, which requires inserting a catheter into the body, magnetic resonance angiography is a far less invasive and less painful test.

During magnetic resonance angiography, you lie flat inside the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. This is a large, tunnel-like tube. In some cases, a special dye, known as contrast, may be added to your bloodstream to make your blood vessels easier to see. When needed, the contrast is given with an intravenous (IV) needle.

If your healthcare provider believes that you may have a narrowing or blockage of blood vessels somewhere in your body, he or she may recommend magnetic resonance angiography. Other conditions that your healthcare provider can look for during this test include:

If a dye is needed to make the blood vessels easier to see during the test, you may experience a bit of discomfort because of the insertion of the IV.

You might also experience some anxiety when placed inside the MRI scanner, which is a small, narrow space. If you think you might be claustrophobic, be sure to inform your healthcare provider of this in advance. You may be given a mild sedative to make being in the MRI scanner more bearable.

Some potential risks of magnetic resonance angiography include:

Pregnant women may have additional risks in the MRI scanner. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are or might be pregnant.

You may be at risk for other complications, depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the test.

EAT/DRINK: You may eat, drink and take medications as usual.

CLOTHING: You must completely change into a patient gown and lock up all personal belongings. A gown and locker will be provided for you. Please remove all piercings and leave all jewelry and valuables at home.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Imaging takes place inside of a large tube-like structure, open on both ends. You must lie perfectly still for quality images. The machine is very loud, so earplugs are required and will be provided to you.

CONTRAST: Your exam may include an injection of a contrast agent. A contrast agent is a special liquid that is injected through an intravenous (IV) line, a small tube placed in a vein. Some people may notice discomfort, tingling or warmth in the lips, metallic taste in the mouth, tingling in the arm, nausea or headache. These symptoms go away quickly.

ALLERGY: If you've had an allergic reaction to contrast that required medical treatment, contact your ordering physician to obtain the recommended prescription to take by mouth 24, 12 and two hours prior to the exam.

ANXIETY: If you require anti-anxiety medication due to claustrophobia, contact your ordering physician for a prescription. Please note, you will need someone to drive you home.

STRONG MAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT: If you have metal within your body that was not disclosed prior to your appointment, your study may be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled upon your arrival until further information can be obtained.

Your doctor may suggest additional preparation depending on your particular situation.

Magnetic resonance angiography may be done on an outpatient basis or during a hospital stay. Generally, magnetic resonance angiography follows this process:

The scan typically causes no side effects or complications. If it is done on an outpatient basis, you are generally free to leave after the magnetic resonance angiography. Your healthcare provider will likely schedule a follow-up appointment to review the results of the test.

Magnetic resonance angiography may be used to check for aneurysms (a bulge in the blood vessel wall), blockages in the arteries, blood clots, and other blood vessel problems. Also called MRA.

Both an MRA and MRI are painless and typically noninvasive diagnostic imaging tools. Doctors may use one of these to view bones, tissues, organs, blood vessels or arteries inside the body. Since they’re so closely related, it can be challenging for patients to understand the difference between MRI and MRA. When you look closer, however, you’ll notice a lot of differences between them despite all the similarities.

You can schedule your MRI or MRA here at Health Images, and our board-certified radiologist will read your images. Our technologists are skilled at helping you feel comfortable and relaxed during your MRI or MRA.

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An MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI uses powerful radio waves, magnets and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of your body. It’s a painless procedure physicians use to view inside your body.

MRIs help doctors gather essential information about your spine, joints, brain and other internal organs. They can study your muscles, nerves, bones, ligaments and other tissues using images from this procedure. Doctors study these areas to evaluate the potential presence of injuries. The doctor can use an MRI to provide you with a diagnosis or see if you’re responding well to treatment. Unlike CT scans or x-rays, an MRI doesn’t use radiation.

Health Images offers several types of  MRI machines and procedures:

An MRI machine generates a strong magnetic field in your body. The MRI then sends signals to a computer that makes a series of images. Each image will show a thin slice of your body. The computer compiles these slices into a 3-D picture.

Before some MRIs, the doctor will inject contrast dye into a vein. The dye helps them view the inside structures of your body more clearly. The dye doctors use often is gadolinium. It may cause you to have a metal taste in your mouth.

You lie down on a table. The table slides in and out of the MRI machine. The technologist may use straps to gently hold you during your test to help you keep still. They may have your entire body inside the machine or just a part of it, depending on the type of MRI you’re getting.

You may hear loud tapping, thumping, banging or knocking noises during the test. The machine makes these noises when creating the energy to take images. You may ask for headphones to listen to music or earplugs to muffle the noise. You may also feel a twitching sensation during your test, which is the MRI stimulating your body’s nerves. It’s nothing to worry about and is normal. You can talk to your technologist during your test.

The MRI testing typically lasts between 20 and 90 minutes, depending on the body area your doctor is requesting. Here at Health Images, an MRI takes about 30 to 60 minutes on average, unless your physician orders your MRI with contrast, which could make your exam last longer.

Our MRI scanners are not small restrictive tubes or tunnels, so you have less chance of feeling claustrophobic. If you do begin to feel claustrophobic, tell your technologist, who will do what they can to relieve your anxiety and help you feel comfortable.

Before your MRI scan, let your doctor know if you:

There shouldn’t be any metal in the MRI room since the machine’s magnetic field can attract metal. Inform your doctor if you possess any metal-based gadgets or devices that could cause problems with the test. These include pacemakers, pacing wires, inner ear implants, cerebral aneurysm clips, TENS units and implanted neurostimulators. You’ll also need to inform them of any tattoos since certain darker inks could contain metal and may affect your MRI.

Schedule an MRI or MRA at Health Images

MRA stands for magnetic resonance angiography and is a medical test that helps doctors diagnose medical diseases and conditions of the blood vessels so they can treat them. In MRA, radio frequency waves, a powerful magnetic field and a computer create detailed images of your body’s major arteries. Magnetic resonance angiography doesn’t use ionizing radiation such as in x-rays.

An MRA produces images of your major blood vessels in your body and health professionals may combine it with any one of these three imaging technologies:

An MRA test is similar to an MRI. As such, during the MRA, you’ll need to lie as still as possible so the technologist can obtain the best quality images for the radiologist.

MRA scans can be performed with a contrast material or without. If required, the technologist administers the contrast material in a vein of your arm through a small intravenous (IV) catheter. The technologist may or may not inject a contrast dye into your forearm or hand to help improve the images’ quality. Let your technologist know if you’re concerned about allergic reactions to the dye, have kidney disease or had kidney failure. Improper kidney functioning can affect your body’s ability to flush the dye from your system.

Like with the MRI, you’ll lie flat on a table that slides in and out of the chamber. Inside the machine, the radio waves and magnetic fields surround your body, creating images. It’s a painless procedure and lasts between 20 and 90 minutes. While the scanner is running, patients can expect a great amount of noise. Because of this, all patients are required to wear hearing protection or headphones with music. The technologist will communicate through an intercom system keeping the patient informed about length of each sequence. The patient is also given a call button in case of an emergency.

Here at Health Images, an MRA takes about 30 to 90 minutes on average.

Before your test, the doctor will most likely give you instructions, such as not eating or drinking for four to six hours. You might not be able to have an MRA done if you have a metallic device, such as an artificial heart valve or pacemaker, are pregnant or weigh more than 300 pounds.

Once it’s time for your test, you’ll change into medical scrubs (top and pants) or a hospital gown and remove all jewelry or metal objects that could interfere with the magnetic field. Let your doctor know if you’re claustrophobic or nervous as they might give you a sedative to help you relax.

Let your doctor about any health issues, allergies and recent surgeries or if it’s possible you’re pregnant. Also let your doctor know if you’re wearing an orthopedic implant of some kind. Most pose no risk, but you should inform the technologist, or your doctor may give you a card to present to the technologist that has information about your implant.

Take all medications as you normally would, unless the doctor instructs you not to.

MRAs and MRIs are similar tests. The primary difference is the application of the technology. Both the MRA and MRI use powerful radio waves and magnets to create the images of your body’s insides, unlike x-rays which create medical images using ionizing radiation.

The primary difference between the two procedures is an MRA is specifically used for examining blood vessels. Without making any incisions, the doctor can see the many complex and tiny blood pathways through your body.

It’s essential for doctors to see your blood vessels as the way your blood flows through your body can tell the doctor the current state of your body:

The MRA will allow the doctor to examine your body’s blood pathways between your kidneys, brain and legs. They may use the contrast material to highlight your vessels and potential blockages.

The doctor will likely recommend an MRA test if you or a loved one suffers from a stroke, blood clot, heart disease or a similar health condition.

In many situations, the MRA provides the doctor with the information they can’t detect in a regular x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan. It’s a noninvasive exam, and the doctor can store the images on the computer or print them on film.

The MRI helps the doctor examine areas of your body like your chest, abdomen, internal organs and pelvis. They don’t use a contrast material in every MRI. Also, MRIs tend to have a bigger area for the doctor to examine instead of simply a single vessel or vein.

The MRI is the most commonly used imaging test of the spinal cord and brain. Doctors often use it to help them diagnose:

The functional MRI (fMRI) of the brain is a particular type of MRI. It might help in examining the anatomy of the brain and determine which brain parts are handling essential functions. This can help the doctor identify essential movement and language control areas of the brain in individuals considered for brain surgery. The doctor may also use functional MRI to assess head injury damage or damage from disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are some different MRI scans your doctor might request:

An MRI focusing on the blood vessels or heart can assess the:

The doctor might use an MRI to check for abnormalities like tumors of many body organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, ovaries or liver.

They may use an MRI to help them evaluate things like joint of spinal disk abnormalities.

Repetitive or traumatic injuries such as torn ligaments or damaged cartilage can cause joint abnormalities.

Spinal disk abnormalities include:

Bone infections can be a sign of a tumor. Soft tissue and bone tumors are rare. Tumors are either malignant or benign. Malignant tumors are likely cancerous and may spread to other body parts, particularly the lungs and other bones. Benign tumors aren’t harmful and won’t spread.

Doctors might use MRIs combined with mammography for detecting breast cancer, especially in women with dense breast tissue or those with a higher risk of the disease.

Doctors use MRAs to:

Doctors can also use an MRA as a CT angiography alternative when the patient shouldn’t use contrast media.

When in need of an MRI or MRA, schedule an appointment at Health Images. As a premier medical imaging destination, we offer same-day appointments, board-certified radiologists and a professional, compassionate and skilled staff. We have multiple locations for your convenience, including in the Boulder, Castle Rock, Denver and surrounding areas, so contact us today to book your MRI or MRA.

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What’s the difference between an MRI and an MRA? While the tests are similar, they do vary in certain ways.

If you’re having an MRI or MRA, your doctor will provide instructions on how to prepare. First, they’ll ask you to tell them if you’ve recently had surgery, have health problems like asthma or kidney or liver disease, are pregnant or might be pregnant, or have any medication or food allergies.

It’s also important to tell your doctor if you have any devices in your body containing metal such as pacemakers, pacing wires, cerebral aneurysm clips, TENS units, or inner ear implants since MRI and MRA scans use strong magnets. Some darker tattoo inks contain metal, so you should tell your care team about them as well. In most cases, you’ll be asked not to eat or drink for 4-6 hours before the procedure.

Before the procedure starts, you’ll change into a hospital gown or “scrubs,” and remove any jewelry. In some cases, your doctor will give you an injection of dye that makes it easier to see the tissues and structures inside the body. You may also be given a sedative if you are claustrophobic.

Next, you’ll lie down on a table that then moves inside the MRI machine. The tech who’s administering your scan may gently apply straps that help you hold still during the procedure.

During the test you’ll hear loud banging, thumping or tapping noises. This is the machine doing its work and is completely normal. You may feel your muscles twitch slightly, as the machine can stimulate your nerves. You can talk with your tech during the test, which lasts between 20 and 90 minutes, depending on the types of images being captured.

Generally speaking, an MRI generates images of organs, bones, and tissues, whereas an MRA focuses on blood vessels.

An MRI can help diagnose:

An MRA can help diagnose:

MRA and MRI scans are powerful tools for diagnosing and addressing injury and disease. Painless and relatively fast, they provide important information that your doctor can use to determine the optimal treatment for your condition.

An MRA uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create images. Your provider can see these images on a computer. Unlike an X-ray, an MRA doesn’t use radiation. It gets information from energy your body gives off in a magnetic field.

Yes, it can. This is called a non-enhanced or non-contrast MRA.

An MRA test can take 20 to 60 minutes. However, it takes a few minutes to put in an IV and get into position in the machine.

Your provider will ask you questions to make sure you don’t have any metal in your body that could be a hazard during an MRA. This could be a medical device or a foreign object from an accident.

Some devices are safe to use in an MRI. Others aren’t. Your provider can check to see if it’s safe for you to have an MRI. Show them your medical device card if you have one.

If you get uncomfortable in tight spaces, ask your provider for a sedative that you can take before your MRA scan.

Tell your provider if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). Also, tell them about any health issues, allergies or surgeries you’ve had. If you have kidney or liver disease, your provider may not be able to use contrast for your scan.

Follow your provider’s instructions for eating, drinking and taking medicine before your MRA test.

Wear comfortable clothes that don’t have metal in or on them. You can change into hospital clothing that doesn’t have zippers or any other metal.

Leave your watch, wallet and jewelry at home or put them in a hospital locker. An MRI can damage credit cards and send metals flying.

During an MRA, your provider will:

If you took a sedative to relax, you’ll need someone to drive you home.

If you didn’t take a sedative, you can drive yourself and go back to work or other activities right away.

MRA testing is noninvasive and painless. You may feel a pinch when they put the IV in your arm.

Some people can have side effects from the contrast (dye), such as a headache, upset stomach or allergic reaction. This is rare.