What is an MRA or Magnetic Resonance Angiogram and what does it diagnose?
MRA, or magnetic resonance angiography or angiogram is a variation of an MRI procedure that zeroes in on the blood vessels.
As their names suggest, MRA and MRI are closely related. In fact, MRA is a type of MRI. Both procedures examine the inside of the body but their processes and uses differ.
An MRA offers a detailed look at blood vessels and how they are functioning in the different parts of the body, rather than focusing on the organs or surrounding tissue. It can also show the rate of blood flow and circulation.
Conditions your healthcare may recommend an MRA include:
- Narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels somewhere in your body
- An aneurysm or weakness in the wall of an artery
- A narrowing of the aorta, or aortic coarctation
- Bleeding in and along the wall of the aorta, or aortic dissection
- To find the cause of a stroke
- Signs of heart disease
- Narrowing or blockage of the vessels in the arms or legs
- Renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the blood vessels in the kidneys that can lead to high blood pressure and even renal failure
Brighton’s board-certified radiologist studies your MRA and provides the results to your doctor.
