MRI "blip"

My 55 year old mother has had MS for 6 years. She recently went for her annual MRI and they found a "blip". They are now sending her for an MRA. They tell her that this isnt life threatening and that they're just doing the MRA as a precaution. However, everything Ive found in my research shows that if an MRA is requested it's usually very serious. Does anyone know anything about this?

[chick1]

I think they would be doing the MRA, which is a type of angiography, to check for possible aneurysm, or any type of vascular malformation.
I wouldn't be too alarmed ......I'm sure it's just a precautionary measure, better safe than sorry!
Take Care!
Mel

[patsy10]

An MRA is not an angiogram.  An MRA( magnetic resonance of arteries) is  MRI that specializes in looking at arteries and blood vessels.  I've had one done myself.  They are probably looking for an aneurysm or an AVM (arteriovenous malformation).  They have to be safe if they see something on the regular MRI.  I really wouldn't worry too much about it.

[chick1]

Excuse me.....but yea, it is a type of  angiogram......
'Magnetic Resonance Angiography'
It provides detailed images of the arteries. Less invasive.
Look it up.

[patsy10]

What I meant was it is not a true angiogram in that catheters are not inserted into an artery.  In a true angiogram arterial catheters are threaded up to the area to be looked at such as the heart, and an iodine-based dye is injected.  This is an invasive procedure with risks such as anaphylaxis from the dye or rupture of an artery, stroke etc....An MRA is just like and MRI( I had both).  The contrast(not iodine based) is injected into a vein.  There's no risks like the ones listed above.