Can a MRA do a well enough job at detecting atherosclerosis as an Angiogram

[Martec]

I am suffering from Angina at age 20. I know of a few tests to detect plaque build up in arteries and most likely in the next few days, I will have to under go one.

I know an Angiograpy is supposed to be the method of choise, but at age 20, and suffering from chronic anxiety disorder my whole life, i dont think i'm ready for that type of method yet.

I was reading up on a Magnetic Resource Angiogram, (MRA) where they inject dye into the vein in the arm and simply take pictures using magnetic imaging, no cather flowing in my arteries.

I would much rather prefer this method but I would like to know will it do a good enough job in detecting plaque build up in arteries as a Coronary Catherization?

[kenkeith]

If you have angina and almost always that indicates some plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.  The best test is a perfusion stress test with a contrast medium injected prior to the test. MRA and CT scan 128 slice are other angiograms. My CT scan did not involve a stress test, it provided a good image (3D) of the vessel anatomy.
When an individual is admitted into ER with chest pains, etc. A CT scan evalutes the condition of vessels very quickly as a opposed to a cath angiogram. MTA and CT scan do not evaluate the vessels for ischemia during a stress event.

Nuclear Stress tests, etc. are tests performed by a doctor and/or trained technician to determine the amount of stress that your heart can manage before developing either an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia (not enough blood flow to the heart muscle). The most commonly performed stress test is the nuclear exercise stress test.

For some insight for nuclear stress test: This test helps to determine which parts of the heart are healthy and function normally and which are not. A small amount of radioactive substance is injected into the patient. Then the doctor uses a special camera to identify the rays emitted from the substance within the body; this produces clear pictures of the heart tissue on a monitor. These pictures are done both at rest and after exercise. Using this technique, a less than normal amount of the contast medium will be seen in those areas of the heart that have a decreased blood supply.

Hope this helps you decide with the available options.  Thanks for the question and if you have any further questions, you are welcome to ask.