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MRA stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. It is an MRI technique that specifically evaluates vessels such as arteries. Renal artery MRAs evaluate the vessels that supply blood to the kidneys to look for narrowing and blockage of the vessels, evaluate a suspected aneurysm, or look at the the blood supply of a kidney tumor.

(FYI: "renal" is another word for kidney).

Renal MRAs are typically ordered for the evaluation of hypertension and kidney failure that can be caused by blockages and narrowing of the arteries. If a kidney receives less blood flow it may "act" as if there is not enough blood in the body and release hormones that try to raise the blood pressure. If one or both kidneys has low flow, over time the kidney tissue becomes damaged and is unable to function leading to renal failure.

Renal MRAs can diagnose:

Plaque - Renal MRAs can detect plaque deposits that overtime can narrow the vessel leading to reduced blood flow to the kidneys. Some plaque can abruptly "tear" off sending bits of plaque into the kidneys, blocking vessels and causing a "stroke" of the kidneys. This can lead to kidney scarring.

Dissection - This refers to a tear in the wall of the vessel. Think of it as a tear of the inner lining of the sleeve of a jacket. If you filled the inner lining of your jacket with down it would block the real opening for your arm.  In the artery the blood goes into the opening of the tear of the dissection, expands the false channel, potentially blocking the flow of blood to the kidney and resulting in low flow to the kidney and damage to the tissue.

Aneurysms and Vascular Tumors - Aneurysms are ballooning of the vessels that can either disturb normal blood flow, press on nearby tissue or rupture. Renal vascular tumors may be picked as the vessels that feed them are large enough to be seen on the MRA.

An MRA of the renal arteries will evaluate:

Renal arteries

Each kidney has between 1 to 2 arteries that come off the sides of the abdominal aorta (see the picture to the right). These short and relatively small vessels can be narrowed by plaque, become inflamed or be affected by dissections and aneurysms.

Abdominal Aorta

The abdominal aorta is the main feeding artery for your body below your diaphragm. A renal MRA will include this vessel and can detect major abnormalities like aneurysms, dissection, plaque and blockages.

Abdominal Aorta branch arteries

In addition to seeing the renal arteries, the MRA will also see the other branch vessels which include the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery among others. These vessels supply other organs including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, adrenals, stomach, etc.

Your Renal artery MRA Scan

A Renal artery MRA generally takes about 15-30 minutes or so to complete. If you are going for one, wear loose comfortable clothing and remember to remove all metal (jewelry, phones, rings, etc) before going into the MRI scan room.  This test is occasionally done with IV MRI contrast.

If you're insured, you may need to have your test authorized (approved) by your insurance company first. If you're uninsured and need to look up prices and buy an MRA scan of the renal arteries, you can use our website to look up MRA scan costs and then purchase with your credit card.

Have you had a Renal MRA scan? What was it like? Please leave your comments below.

MRA stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. It is an MRI technique that specifically evaluates vessels such as arteries. Carotid MRAs evaluate the vessels of the neck to look for aneurysms, vascular tumors, narrowing and blockage of the vessels of the neck, among others. 

Carotid MRAs are typically ordered for the evaluation of stroke to detect blockages and narrowing of the arteries in the neck that ultimately supply the brain. Symptoms related to stroke include:

• weakness
• sudden speech difficulties
• confusion, erratic behavior
• vertigo, dizziness
• pain, tingling
  
• numbness

Carotid MRAs can diagnose:

Plaque - Carotid MRAs can detect plaque deposits that overtime can narrow the opening of the vessel leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. Some plaque can abruptly "tear" off sending bits of plaque up into the brain, blocking small vessels. Sometimes these tiny blockages can be completely unnoticed and other times cause the symptoms of stroke. In some cases the vessel can narrow to a point and cause a rushing sound in the neck called a "bruit." The sound is blood trying to get through the narrow opening. Carotid MRAs can also pick up complete blockages of these vessels as well.

Dissection - This refers to a tear in the wall of the vessel. Think of it as a tear of the inner lining of the sleeve of a jacket. If you filled the inner lining of your jacket with down it would block the real opening for your arm.  In the artery the blood goes into the opening of the tear of the dissection, expands the false channel, potentially blocking the flow of blood to the brain and resulting in stroke like symptoms.

Aneurysms and Vascular Tumors - Aneurysms are ballooning of the vessels that can either disturb normal blood flow or by their shape and size press on nearby tissues and cause related symptoms such as neck pain, pressure, nerve blockage, etc. Vascular tumors may be picked as the vessels that feed them are large enough to be seen on the MRA.

An MRA of the carotids will evaluate:

Internal Carotid Arteries

The carotid vessels arise from the aorta in the chest and travel up the neck along both sides. The vessels splits in the neck with the "internal" segments feeding roughly the front 2/3 of brain tissue. The "external" segments feed the face and parts of the scalp and skull.

Vereberal and Basilar Arteries

The basilar artery is made up by two vertebral arteries which arise from vessels in the chest and travel up along both sides of the neck near the spine. This vessel feeds the brain stem and approximately the back 1/3 of the brain.

Aortic Arch

Neck soft tissues

Parts of the soft tissues of the neck are seen in a Carotid MRA. Occasionally large tumors, unusual inflammation or other findings can be picked up. 

Your Carotid MRA Scan

A Carotid MRA generally takes about 10 to 15 minutes or so to complete. If you are going for one, wear loose comfortable clothing and remember to remove all metal (jewelry, phones, rings, etc) before going into the MRI scan room.  This test is occasionally done with IV MRI contrast.

If you're insured, you may need to have your test authorized (approved) by your insurance company first. If you're uninsured and need to look up prices and buy an MRA scan of the carotids, you can use our website to look up MRA scan costs and then purchase with your credit card.

Have you had a Carotid MRA scan? What was it like? Please leave your comments below.

MRA stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. It is an MRI technique that specifically evaluates vessels such as arteries. Brain MRAs evaluate the vessels of the brain to look for aneurysms, vascular malformations such as AVMs, narrowing and blockage of the vessels of the brain, among others. (Read about MRI scans and MRI scans of the brain.)

Brain MRAs are typically ordered for many different symptoms to exclude an aneurysm or vascular malformation, or search for a source of bleed. They are also used during the evaluation of stroke to detect blockages and narrowing of the arteries that feed the brain. Below are a few common diagnoses that brain MRAs can pick up.

Aneurysm - Aneurysms are ballooning of vessels that risk rupturing. If blood leaks from the aneurysm patients describe the headache as a thunderclap and sharp/shooting pains. Patients can also have stroke-like symptoms with weakness, slurred speech and confusion. MRAs can detect most aneurysms though if the aneurysm is small or has collapsed, it may not be identified by this study.

AVM - AVM stands for arteriovenous malformation. This is essentially a nest of abnormal vessels which grows in the brain. The vessels of AVMs are like "varicose veins" with thin walls but are subjected to high pressure blood flow, so risk rupture, much like an aneurysm. They can also act like tumors in that if large enough they compress nearby brain tissue. AVMs can also form aneurysms in or near them. Patients will experience headaches, stroke-like symptoms or seizures.

Stroke - Also known as a "brain attack", stroke refers to a blocked artery that deprives a part of the brain of blood (and therefore oxygen). This part of the brain loses it function and patients present with weakness, slurred speech, difficulty walking and on occasion, headaches. MRAs evaluate the extent of atherosclerosis and can detect any significant blockages.

An MRA of the brain will evaluate:

Internal Carotid Arteries

The carotid vessels arise from the aorta in the chest and travel up the neck along both sides. The vessels splits in the neck with the "internal" segments feeding roughly the front 2/3 of brain tissue.

Basilar Artery

The basilar artery is made up by two vertebral arteries which arise from vessels in the chest and travel up along both sides of the neck near the spine. This vessel feeds the brain stem and approximately the back 1/3 of the brain.

Circle of Willis

Brain matter

The white and gray matter of the brain are partially seen. Parts of the pituitary gland, optic nerves and upper brain stem are also evaluated.

Your Brain MRA Scan

A brain MRA generally takes about 10 minutes or so to complete. If you are going for one, wear loose comfortable clothing and remember to remove all metal (jewelry, phones, rings, etc) before going into the MRI scan room.  This test is occasionally done with IV MRI contrast.

If you're insured, you may need to have your test authorized (approved) by your insurance company first. If you're uninsured and need to look up prices and buy an MRA scan of the brain, you can use our website to look up MRA scan costs and then purchase with your credit card.

Have you had a Brain MRA scan? What was it like? Please leave your comments below.

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRIs are very good at analyzing the anatomy of your internal organs. You can read more about MRI here.

MRA stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. This type of MRI test highlights and evaluates the arteries in your body. It can examine arteries in your brain (aka the "circle of willis" or "COW"), your neck ("carotids"), your chest and abdomen ("aorta") among others. MRA is typically used to detect:

• Aneurysms -- these are "outpouchings" of vessels that can rupture.
  
• Atherosclerosis -- plaque formation and narrowing of arteries.
• Dissection -- internal "tear" of a major artery.
• Vasculitis -- inflammation of the arteries.
• Congential malformations -- examples include AVM, hemangioma and duplicated vessels.
• Pre operative planning -- for placement of stents or treating anueyrsms and AVMs.

In some cases your doctor will order both an MRI and MRA. For example, Neurologists who are treating patients with migraines may order these together to evaluate the brain and the vessels of the brain to look for tumors, vasculitis and aneurysms.

MRA is done very much like MRI. You're placed on the MRI table. The technologist places a receiving coil around the body part in which the vessels are located. The table is advanced into the MRI machine and the exam is done. MRA tests take less time than MRIs, though can vary depending on the vessel(s) being evaluated.

If you're looking for an MRA test you can use our site here to look up local facilities and MRA scan costs.

Do you have any tips for people who are going to have an MRA? Leave your comments below.