Cardio MRI or CT Scan

[vinnet]

I’m 53 years old with aortic insufficiency and miral valve prolasp and I’m reluctant to have a CT Scan if there are alternatives. Would a Cardio MRI be at least as effective as a CT scan to help diagnose the following:

Aortic valve condition, such as is it bicuspid, calcified, stenosis, and the extent of insufficiency?
Aorta condition?
Heart mussel mass?
General cardiovascular condition (blockages)?
Condition of the Mirtal valve?

I ask because as heat valve patient soon destined to elect a surgical procedure I would like to have the best possible diagnosis to know my options (such as valve repair, valve replacement with a aortic prosthetic, stentless or stented tissue valve) available to me so I can interview the best surgeons on the appropriate procedure.    Thus far I’ve only had Stress Echo Cardiograms.

Are there other pre-operative diagnostic procedures you wold suggest to help make this determination?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

I'm unclear as to why you are reluctant to have a CT but I suspect it may be due to the radiation associated with it? Cardiac MR is an option but only in limited centers and cardiac MR is extremely complicated. I would discuss with a cardiac MR specialist to see if you can find out what you need to know with an MR; I suspect that an echo would be the safest and would probably yield the info you need to decide whether or not surgery is appropriate. Usually aortic insufficiency has to be severe in order to consider proceeding to surgery

[vinnet]

Thank you Dr. Green.

Yes, it's the radiation I would like to avoid unless absolutly necessary. As a last follow-up what would you consider the key parameter values that would indicate sever aortic insufficiency?   Thank you