I am under treatment for stable angina. Do I need a cardiac MRI to gain the status of my disease?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have had stable ischemic heart disease for the last three years. You are taking medicines and want to know about the heart in detail for which you want cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). You have 50 % blockage in the major coronary artery. As far as your heart condition is concerned, it only needs detailed echocardiography to know the function of the left and right sides of the heart, structures of valves, and other structures. MRI is only done in cases when comprehensive echocardiography is unable to provide information that the cardiologist wants to know. Stable ischemic heart disease is treated with lifestyle modifications and medicines. If signs or symptoms remain stable, these are continued without intervention such as angioplasty or bypass. When symptoms are out of control despite maximum medicines and lifestyle modifications, then revascularization is done. I hope your cardiologist got complete information about your heart from angiography and echocardiography. So there is no need for a cardiac MRI. MRI is required when there is congenital heart disease or any infiltrative disease whose complete details are not evident on echocardiography. I am sorry I could not promote your views about having a cardiac MRI, yet you may ask your cardiologist to tell you the benefits of cardiac MRI over echocardiography, and then you may ask about undergoing MRI in your case. Remember, in most patients, MRI does not provide any additional information that may aid in planning medicines and treatment plans beyond echocardiography and angiography. I would advise you to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, and medications, and follow the advice of your cardiologist. Moreover, you may send your reports to me, so that I may guide you accordingly.