MRA vs CTA

Hello,

I have 2 adjacent annies in my CA behind my right eye. They are 2mm and 3mm. Found in summer 2013 and I'm up for my 6mo scan to watch for any possible growth. As most annies are found, mine were by coincidence. I have of course learned a lot by visiting this site and doing research. I have come to learn that my annies were detected because of the size of the MRI machine that was used. 3ton to be exact. I had a friend, which happens to be a Radiologist, view my scans and he was surprised at the size of the equipment used for the scan. He thinks that if a smaller machine or other type of scan was used, the annies would probably not have been detected. He recommended to always make sure that if receiving an MRA, to make sure that the maching is at least 3T. I had CT, MRI, CTA, and MRA's done. The Neurointerventionalist used the MRA for the office visit.


This month I'm going in for my 6mo and the doc wants to use a CTA scan. What are you thoughts/experience with CTA vs MRA? I also found this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21525105

Laura

Hi Laura,

As a rule, an Angiogram with contrast dye is usually considered to be the Gold Standard when checking for an aneurysm ...this test is exclusive in its ability to view the arteries with more detail then other methods...An MRA with contrast is very good too...I was treated for a rather large aneurysm which was behind my left eye, and the CTA didn't see it...its did show some "fullness" and thats it, the MRA with contrast however showed the annie in all its glory.

Peace, Janet

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Thanks for the feedback, I'll email them today to see if they would consider changing me to an MRA. I welcome any other feedback from other members.

Best,

Laura

My aneurysm wasn't even seen on the CT scan...but was seen on the MRA .. then when and angiogram was ordered and done...Doctors found another...definitely (like Janet said,) the gold standard...~ Good luck ~ Colleen

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I suffer from severe claustrophobia, and need a scan every 5 years. Would a CTA be as accurate as an MRA, at least as a first step? I would much rather have a CTA and, from memory, it’s a lot shorter than an MRA.

An MRI with contrast dye is more accurate than a CT scan as far as I know. Also the latest MRI scanners are much faster than the older ones. My latest MRI of my brain box took only 6 mins… OK… no smart comments about the emptiness of my brain box grin

I am a survivor from an unexpected rupture (2011). A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with an anterior aneurysm that was identified in an MRA but not a CTA. Her renowned neurosurgeon said there must have been a glitch and said she was fine. She continued on to another neurosurgeon , had an angiogram who found the aneurysm. It is my personal belief that MRA’s are still the best and trusted way to detect aneurysms.

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I’m really with you on this! I, too, am very claustrophobic and cannot get myself into an MRI. I am hoping CT scans will be enough as well. Looking forward to all the feedback.

6 minute MRI? That would be amazing. I’ve always been told 20 minutes min–twice as long if you use an open machine.

My son had an MRI and MRA this summer and it took over an hour. I’m not sure if the MRA portion takes longer than the MRI, but the two combined were probably close to an hour and a half he was back there.

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You need to ask the imaging center how long it will take, they may not have the type of machine that Woofie has available. Mine take a good 20 minutes or so, longer if they’re doing the MRA with and without contrast. I have fallen asleep in the machine several times.

The tech asks a bunch of questions, you then have to change (I literally have an MRA outfit that has no metal, sweats, tank top and T-shirt). Have to put their socks on, sometimes they have me put on a hospital gown rather than my T-shirt and tank top, depends on the tech. I’m escorted back to the machine. They give me ear plugs, lay down on the table, adjust the pads around my head, give me the call button, offer me a cloth for over my eyes, and table rolls into the machine. From there the light is very bright to me, as others have mentioned, keep them closed. The tech asks how I’m doing. The sounds commence once the imaging starts. I try to relate the sounds to those I know, it always reminds me of ships, tug boats and trains. My dad and myself were in the Navy and I lived close enough to the train tracks at one time. Then I start singing to myself, I hope. For some reason “One Tin Soldier”, the version from Billy Jack always comes to mind, as does “I Think I Love You” yea, by the Partride Family, and there’s another song but I can’t recall it right now