Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA)

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KEY POINTS

• A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed pictures of narrowing, weakness, or blockages in blood vessels.
• With most machines, you will lie on a narrow bed that moves through the MRA machine. MRAs usually take 30 to 60 minutes.
• Ask your healthcare provider when and how you will get the results.

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What is a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA?)

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed pictures of narrowing, weakness, or blockages in blood vessels.

When is it used?

MRAs are done to check for problems in blood vessels. For example, your healthcare provider can see where an artery is blocked and how much is blocked. Blocked or narrowed blood vessels can increase your risk for a stroke or heart attack. MRAs may also find a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the blood vessel to bulge or leak. MRA results can help your provider see if you need treatment to widen an artery, remove a blockage, or bypass an artery.

An MRA may be used to examine blood vessels in your:

• Brain
• Neck
• Heart and chest
• Kidneys, liver, and abdomen
• Pelvis
• Legs and arms

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Usually no preparation is needed for an MRA. In some cases, your healthcare provider may give you instructions to follow before the scan. Your instructions may include:

• Changes to how you take your medicines
• What you can eat and drink before the MRA
• Getting other tests or procedures

Metal will interfere with the scan, so take the following precautions:

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing without metal fastenings such as zippers or clasps.
• Don’t wear jewelry.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any metal in your body, such as a pacemaker, plates or screws from joint surgery, or a cochlear (ear) implant. The metal can cause problems with the MRA machine, or the MRA machine can change the way the pacemaker or implant works.
• Some skin medicine patches contain metals. The patches could overheat during an MRA and burn your skin. If you wear a medicine patch, you may need to remove it before an MRA. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have tattoos, especially on the eyelids. Some tattoo inks contain tiny bits of metal that can cause swelling or burning, or affect the MRA image.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are or may be pregnant or breast-feeding. Although there is no evidence that an MRA will hurt a baby during the first trimester of pregnancy, the National Radiological Protection Board recommends not using it during the first 3 months of pregnancy. MRA may be used safely later in pregnancy. If you are breast-feeding, ask your healthcare provider if you should pump breast milk ahead of time and keep it to use for 24 hours after the test.

Most MRA machines are tunnel shaped, which means you will be in a small space during the scan. Tell your healthcare provider if you have anxiety or fears when you are in small or crowded spaces. Your provider may give you medicine to help you feel less nervous, or you may be able to go to a site with an open MRA scanner.

What happens during the procedure?

With most machines, you will lie on a narrow bed that moves through the MRA machine. Some machines move over the bed. You will need to be very still during the scan so the pictures will not be blurry. Sometimes you will be given IV fluid called contrast dye during the MRA. Contrast dye can make the blood vessels in your body easier to see in the pictures created by the MRA.

Most MRAs take 30 to 60 minutes and some take longer. You will hear knocking and a whirring sound while the pictures are being taken. If you are concerned that the noise will bother you, ask the person doing the scan if you can wear earplugs or listen to music during the scan. You will be able to speak with the person doing the scan so you can let them know if you are having any problems.

When the scan is over you may go home.

Ask your healthcare provider when and how you will get the results.

What are the risks of this procedure?

Every procedure or treatment has risks. In rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye used during the procedure.

Be sure to discuss any other questions or concerns that you may have.