Cardiac MRI Scan

A cardiac MRI is a non-invasive imaging test that uses radio waves, magnets, and a computer to create detailed, complete and precise pictures of your heart and its blood supply. A cardiac MRI, also known as an MRI heart scan, can help diagnose the type and severity of heart disease.

When you have an MRI, you lie on a table and the table moves into the MRI machine.

A cardiac MRI can help diagnose many heart conditions, including:

• Congenital heart problems - birth defects that affect the way your heart works.
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) - when your coronary arteries that deliver blood to your heart muscle become narrowed by a build-up of fatty material within their walls. Narrowed arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, block or interrupt your heart's blood supply and is a common cause of angina, heart disease, heart attacks and heart failure.
• Heart tissue damage from a heart attack – when the supply of blood to your heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot, your heart muscle is damaged. The amount of heart muscle damage can be assessed by MRI.
• Heart muscle (myocardial) diseases – including cardiomyopathy, where your heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened or stiffened causing less efficient pumping of blood around your body and can result in heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.
• Heart valve defects – including leaking heart valves, called regurgitation.
• Pericardial diseases - such as constrictive pericarditis where the pericardium (the outer lining of your heart muscle) is inflamed.

A cardiac MRI usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. It may take longer, up to two hours, if your doctor has asked for many images from different angles.

A cardiologist would order an MRI to help:

• evaluate the size and function of your heart chambers, valves, major blood vessels, and surrounding structures such as the heart wall and pericardium, overtime.
• diagnose cardiovascular disorders (heart and/or blood vessel) including coronary heart disease, strokes, peripheral arterial disease and aortic disease.
• detect the build-up of deposits of cholesterol, known as plaques, and blockages in your blood vessels and evaluate their effects, such as limited blood flow to your heart.
• determine the extent of heart muscle damage due to a heart attack or progressive heart disease and its effect on your heart’s ability to pump.

The cost of a cardiac MRI scan will depend on the extent of investigation requested by your cardiologist and your Ramsay hospital of choice.

You will receive a formal quotation price for your cardiac MRI following your consultation with one of our expert cardiologists. This formal quote for your cardiac MRI will be valid for 60 days.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. A cardiac MRI is covered by most medical insurance policies as long as it is deemed medically necessary by your doctor. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before your cardiac MRI procedure.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your cardiac MRI test yourself. We offer interest-free finance so you pay 0% interest, no deposit and benefit from affordable monthly instalments.

You can safely visit our hospitals with our extensive measures in place to prevent infection. We also have free onsite car parking for your convenience.