Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
A few questions about tests for chest pain
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
|
A few questions about tests for chest pain
by tifa, Sep 15, 2005 12:00AM
I am 25 years old, female, been having chest pains off and on for years now. I have had two nuclear stress tests, many VQ scans, and a few years back even had some chest ct's. Recently, I also started having back pain with it. They are sending me for another VQ today at 3. And have mentioned the possibility of testing my aorta. A few questions ...
1. I had a stress test 2 weeks ago or so, should I be having a VQ scan so soon after that radiation?
2. I'm trying to avoid anymore radition from ct so which imaging technique is better for imaging the aorta ... An MRI or an MRA? And should it be ordered with or without contrast? And is it just called a chest mri or mra or should it be called cardiac mri or mra? I am asking because my doctor isn't clear about alternatives to ct.
3. That would just view the thoracic aorta, am I correct? What would be needed to view the abdominal as well? An ultrasound? And is that all that would be needed? A chest scan and stomach ultrasound? Then the entire aorta has been viewed?
4. If someone has a normal Echocardiogram except for trace regurge, what is the liklhood of Marfan's with no family history??? But I do have pectus, long fingers and toes, and very flexible joints.
Thanks so much.
1. I had a stress test 2 weeks ago or so, should I be having a VQ scan so soon after that radiation?
2. I'm trying to avoid anymore radition from ct so which imaging technique is better for imaging the aorta ... An MRI or an MRA? And should it be ordered with or without contrast? And is it just called a chest mri or mra or should it be called cardiac mri or mra? I am asking because my doctor isn't clear about alternatives to ct.
3. That would just view the thoracic aorta, am I correct? What would be needed to view the abdominal as well? An ultrasound? And is that all that would be needed? A chest scan and stomach ultrasound? Then the entire aorta has been viewed?
4. If someone has a normal Echocardiogram except for trace regurge, what is the liklhood of Marfan's with no family history??? But I do have pectus, long fingers and toes, and very flexible joints.
Thanks so much.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 15, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 15, 2005 12:00AM
Tifa,
1. I had a stress test 2 weeks ago or so, should I be having a VQ scan so soon after that radiation?
No. However, at some point you are going to have a false positive test. If your testin ghas been negative thus far, continuing to repeat them so frequently will eventually give you a false positive test.
2. I'm trying to avoid anymore radition from ct so which imaging technique is better for imaging the aorta ... An MRI or an MRA? And should it be ordered with or without contrast? And is it just called a chest mri or mra or should it be called cardiac mri or mra? I am asking because my doctor isn't clear about alternatives to ct.
CT and MRI are equivalent in imaging the aorta. The doctor can speak with the radiologist to make sure the appropriate test is ordered.
3. That would just view the thoracic aorta, am I correct? What would be needed to view the abdominal as well? An ultrasound? And is that all that would be needed? A chest scan and stomach ultrasound? Then the entire aorta has been viewed?
Either can. The abdominal aorta is commonly imaged with ultrasound. The combination of the 2 would image the aorta. Aortic disease would be somewhat uncommon in someone your age unless you have a family history of Marfans or other connective tissue disease.
4. If someone has a normal Echocardiogram except for trace regurge, what is the liklhood of Marfan's with no family history??? But I do have pectus, long fingers and toes, and very flexible joints.
Marfans is a difficult diagnosis and does occur in some sporadically. If there is some quesiton on whether you have Marfan's I would recommend you seek consultation at a center that specializes in treating and diagnosing patients with Marfans syndrome.
good luck
1. I had a stress test 2 weeks ago or so, should I be having a VQ scan so soon after that radiation?
No. However, at some point you are going to have a false positive test. If your testin ghas been negative thus far, continuing to repeat them so frequently will eventually give you a false positive test.
2. I'm trying to avoid anymore radition from ct so which imaging technique is better for imaging the aorta ... An MRI or an MRA? And should it be ordered with or without contrast? And is it just called a chest mri or mra or should it be called cardiac mri or mra? I am asking because my doctor isn't clear about alternatives to ct.
CT and MRI are equivalent in imaging the aorta. The doctor can speak with the radiologist to make sure the appropriate test is ordered.
3. That would just view the thoracic aorta, am I correct? What would be needed to view the abdominal as well? An ultrasound? And is that all that would be needed? A chest scan and stomach ultrasound? Then the entire aorta has been viewed?
Either can. The abdominal aorta is commonly imaged with ultrasound. The combination of the 2 would image the aorta. Aortic disease would be somewhat uncommon in someone your age unless you have a family history of Marfans or other connective tissue disease.
4. If someone has a normal Echocardiogram except for trace regurge, what is the liklhood of Marfan's with no family history??? But I do have pectus, long fingers and toes, and very flexible joints.
Marfans is a difficult diagnosis and does occur in some sporadically. If there is some quesiton on whether you have Marfan's I would recommend you seek consultation at a center that specializes in treating and diagnosing patients with Marfans syndrome.
good luck
My understanding is that an MRA is an MRI with contrast. Without contrast an MRI of the aorta does not show (or perhaps show as clearly) the delineation of the inner surface of the artery.
I was told by a genetic cardiologist who did assess me for Marfan Syndrome that with no family history of MFS, one major criteria met (aortic aneurysm w/root involvement), and a few minor minor indicators (tall, very nearsighted, wrist thumb sign, flexible), no pectus, no scoliosis, I had about a 12% chance of having MFS. Genetic testing (~$2K) showed I do not have a FBN1 mutation (which would indicate MFS). BTW about 1/4 of people diagnosed with MFS have a spontaneous mutation--meaning there is no family history or its occurence, as the doc said, is sporadic.
I