Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Cardiac MRI provides valuable additional information about the heart and its function. It is particularly useful in the diagnosis of unclear heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmia of unclear origin. It can also be used to investigate cardiac anatomy and post-operative problems in structural abnormalities. The imaging can measure the leakage and flow velocities of the heart valves. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is particularly useful for assessing, for example, aortic valve anatomy, leakage and possible thoracic aortic dilatation.
Cardiac MRI is performed at Mehiläinen Töölö in Helsinki.
With MRI, the size and function of the heart chambers can be reliably measured without limited visibility. It can also reliably assess local motion disturbances and wall thicknesses, where thickening or thinning of the heart structure is not visible with sufficient accuracy on ultrasound.
When should you have a cardiac MRI?
MRI can show changes in the heart muscle that cannot be distinguished by conventional ultrasound examination. It is possible to distinguish recent swelling of the myocardium, for example, in connection with an infarction or inflammation, precisely by MRI. Contrast medium-enhanced post-operative images of the myocardium can distinguish lesions such as scars and inflammatory changes (myocardial infarction, myocarditis, sarcoidosis, accumulation diseases such as amyloidosis).
How is a cardiac MRI scan performed?
The cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is safe and painless and no radiation is used.
Please arrive approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled time for the MRI. Prior to the examination, a patient information form must be completed to ensure the safety of the MRI scan. You should reserve about an hour for the entire examination. During the examination, you are given an intravenous gadolinium booster, which allows for an accurate scan. The imaging team consists of radiological nurses experienced in cardiac imaging and an experienced radiologist from Mehiläinen.
During an MRI scan, the patient lies on their back and should not move during the scan. During the scan, the machine makes loud noises. To protect hearing, headphones are provided, with which breathing instructions are also provided. Because of breathing instructions, a cardiac MRI scan also usually takes a little longer than an MRI scan of other parts of the body.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is performed with the Siemens Avanto Fit scanner at Mehiläinen Töölö. The patient has a button in their hand at all times during the scan, which can be pressed for immediate contact with the nurse performing the scan. The imaging can also be interrupted at any time.
You will need to have a referral from your doctor for a cardiac MRI scan
A cardiac MRI always requires a referral from a specialist and the best assessment of the need for the examination is given by a cardiology specialist. Cardiac MRI is not the primary method of cardiac examination, although it does play an important role in cardiac imaging.
Price of cardiac MRI
The price of an extensive cardiac MRI is EUR 880, of which after the Kela reimbursement (EUR 114) the customer will have to pay EUR 766 after deductible.
The cardiac MRI requires post-processing and measurements, so it can sometimes take longer than normal to obtain a doctor's statement. However, you can usually get a doctor's statement on the same day.
Obstacles to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
A cardiac MRI may not be possible if you have, for example, a pacemaker, a non-magnetic compatible in-body implant, some foreign metal objects in the body (e.g. a metal chip in an eye), or a rare kidney disease.
Contact information
Mehiläinen team, tel. +358 (0)10 414 0300 (local network rate/mobile charge)