Diagnosing Heart Disease
Mercy and Iowa Heart Center is using a new imaging tool to better diagnose cardiac problems and heart disease among patients.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is one of the newest diagnostic tests in cardiac imaging, said Dr. Eric Martin, medical director of nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT and MR imaging for Iowa Heart. The process uses a powerful magnet, a radio frequency pulse and a computer to generate detailed still and moving images of the heart and surrounding structures.
The test gives a better assessment of heart function by looking at the valves, chambers and heart muscle and determining how to treat such conditions as coronary disease, or blocked arteries, Martin added.
"We're able to see if there's an area of the heart muscle that doesn't get enough blood flow or areas of the heart muscles that have been injured by a previous heart attack. That way we can be guided on what kind of treatment is better used for that specific patient," he said.
Heart failure can have several causes, such as a virus, metabolic diseases, heart rhythm problems or blocked arteries. Cardiac MRI can help confirm the specific cause.
Testing helped determine what caused Susan Huebner's heart failure on Oct. 16. In the two months since the testing has been offered, she has undergone two scans.
Huebner, 54, said she had nausea, felt tightness in her chest, and broke into a cold sweat before calling 911 in October. She also has a family history of heart disease.
Her first scan showed a small abnormality that was not consistent with her initial diagnosis of stress-induced heart muscle disease, but that is seen instead in patients with inflammation of the heart muscle, or "myocarditis." A second car- diac MRI a month later confirmed myocarditis.
Huebner said the test was not difficult, although she was more comfortable the second time around because she knew what to expect. Martin said treatment with medications would not be necessary, as Huebner's heart function has normalized and most cases of myocarditis clear up on their own.
The test replaces three others that would normally be performed in separate appointments - ultrasound, nuclear testing and a stress test. While the test is a good option for those who cannot use a treadmill, patients must be able to lie still for 45 to 90 minutes and be able to hold their breath.
"People call this a one-stop shop for cardiac imaging," Martin said.
Patients who have suffered heart failure without any identifiable cause would benefit from the imaging, Martin said. Others who could benefit include those with previous coronary disease that needs to be evaluated for further treatment as well as patients with cardiac masses, pericardial disease and congenital heart disease.
The test is painless, results in more robust images of the heart and provides staff with more information than the other technologies, he said. The images also show the sacs surrounding the heart muscle, cardiac mass and infiltration of the heart muscle. It can also be used to evaluate congenital heart disease and heart valve problems.
Dr. Roman Mirsky, radiologist with Diagnostic Imaging Associates at Mercy Medical Center, said the images are more detailed and easier to read. But it requires more work to ensure the images turn out well and patients must cooperate by lying still and holding their breath when needed. Testing takes about twice as long as other MRIs, he added, with results returned within a day.
Mercy and Iowa Heart offers the imaging at Mercy West Lakes on Tuesday afternoons. Martin expects demand to grow as patients become more aware of the option and medical staff become more comfortable with the technology.
