Finding the right tests…
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Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
MRI
Cardiac MRI builds a detailed picture of your heart's chambers, valves, and muscle without opening the chest or using any X-ray radiation. Doctors use it to measure how well your heart pumps blood, a value called ejection fraction, and cardiologists consider this scan the most accurate way to calculate that number. It can also show inflammation from myocarditis, thickened or weakened heart muscle in cardiomyopathy, and scarring left behind after a heart attack. The scan takes longer than many MRI exams because it captures your heart moving through each beat, and an irregular heart rhythm can affect how clear the images turn out.
The scan produces images and measurements of your heart's four chambers, valve function, wall motion, and blood flow. Your report typically includes ejection fraction, the percentage of blood pumped out with each heartbeat, plus notes on any scarring, inflammation, or structural change your doctor asked the radiologist to look for.
An echocardiogram uses sound waves, and a CT angiogram uses X-rays and contrast dye focused on the coronary arteries. Cardiac MRI instead uses magnetic fields to build cross-sectional images of the heart muscle itself, which is why it's considered the reference method for measuring ejection fraction and chamber size.
- Scarring in the heart muscle after a heart attack, including areas that are still alive and could recover with treatment - Inflammation patterns typical of myocarditis - Muscle thickening or weakening seen in different types of cardiomyopathy - Valve leakage or narrowing, and how it affects blood flow
You'll lie still inside the scanner while it captures images timed to your heartbeat, often using ECG leads placed on your chest. Some protocols ask you to hold your breath for short periods. A contrast injection may be used to highlight scar tissue, though your doctor and the centre will tell you if that applies to your scan. Because the heart is always moving, this scan usually takes longer than an MRI of a joint or the brain.
No. Cardiac MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to build the images, not X-rays. This makes it a good option when your doctor wants to avoid radiation, including for repeat scans over time.
An echocardiogram uses sound waves and can be done quickly. Cardiac MRI takes longer but gives a more detailed, reproducible view of the heart muscle and can show scarring that an echo may not pick up.
Some cardiac MRI protocols use a contrast dye to highlight scar tissue or inflammation, and others don't. Your doctor or the centre will tell you what your specific scan requires.
It takes longer than a standard MRI of a single body part because the images are timed to your heartbeat. Ask your doctor or the centre for a time estimate before you come in.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Some implanted heart devices are not compatible with MRI, though newer MRI-conditional devices may be allowed under specific conditions. Tell your doctor and the centre about any implant before scheduling the scan.
Preparation can vary depending on what your doctor is checking for. Ask your doctor or the centre for specific instructions before your appointment.
It can show the size and location of scar tissue left behind, and can help distinguish scarred muscle from muscle that is still alive and might recover. This information can guide treatment decisions.