CT or MRI Scan Before PV Ablation?

[chuparosa]

For anyone that has had a PV ablation, did your doctor schedule at CT Scan or an MRI of your heart before the procedure? I was told I would have to get a CT Scan. I'm very concerned about the radiation and was wondering if anyone had an MRI instead.

[ptadvoc8]

My ablation was for WPW, not PV, but I did have a CT Scan just  prior to the ablation and like you, I was concerned about radiation exposure. I had also recently had a Thallium stress test and was scheduled the next day for an ablation, with yet more radiation exposure.

After discussing this with my doc, she said for what they were looking for in my case, an MRI would not be the best test and instead suggested an angiography prior to the albation as an alternative to the CT Scan, but as that involved another type of surgery, I went ahead and had the Thoracic CT Scan. It was explained to me that there are some things that CT scans pick up better than MRIs and some things that MRIs pick up better than CT scans.

I think it is always important to ask about this and to express your concerns about radiation exposure since I am also aware that, all things being relatively equal, sometimes you may unfortunately just get scheduled for the least expensive test or the test your insurance company will cover or the test that has the soonest openings.

While we have come to be pretty blase about radiation exposure and the tests they do are true lifesavers, radiation damage is cumulative so avoiding it whenever possible seems to me to be a good thing, but don't be so afraid that you pass up something that may help you. I am so glad I went ahead and had my CT scan as it ended up revealing information that was critical to my having a safe ablation procedure.

[claytex]

I am 67 years old.  I have had about10-12 CT scans over the last 12 years.  About half were for the upper part of my body and half for the lower part.  I have had about that many MRIs, no telling how many chest xrays, plus I had prostate cancer and 4 years ago I had 44 proton radiation treatments... Well Im still kicking, no signs of any other cancer.  I do have AF. I have had it 10-12 years, however I can max out a stress test treadmill test for 15 minutes...Like one guy said, I believe your other problems outweigh the risk of exposure to radiation... Well any way I should glow in the dark but I dont and so far I just fine... Hope this helps.. have a good day .   Claytex

[itdood]

I had a cardiac MRI for different reasons, not related to ablation.  From the research I did, MRI is better, but more expensive, and also takes longer.  CT is open, MRI you are in a closed tube which can be tough if you're claustrophobic.  I'm prone to anxiety and was in that thing for 2.5 hours.  If I can get through it, anyone can.

Here's a link to my MRI movie.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ab4vqdB4Vo

It starts at the bottom of my heart and works it's way up, taking slice views.  

MRI is amazing but for the issue I was being evaluated for CT wasn't an option.

Personally I have no concerns about x-rays.  As long as you don't have 1 CT scan per week, it's perfectly safe.  Bad news travels fast and I've never heard of anyone making a claim about these things.

[Jerry_NJ]

I can't comment from experience or even knowledge to your specific question, however as you have not yet gotten any responses I'll share the following.

Ablation is a serious procedure with some risks, and believe that all preparatory procedures should be undertaken to minimize those risks.  Said another way, whatever you concern about radiation is, I thing you should have a larger concern that all is done that can be done to assure a successful ablation.  

This is just my thinking and I hope you can get what you want.