Scanning technique shows if heart has irreversible damage

A specialised technique using contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can accurately predict which patients with heart disease will benefit the most from undergoing revascularisation, according to a new study.

In the study 50 people who were already scheduled to undergo bypass surgery or angioplasty first underwent contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The screen was highly accurate at predicting which hearts had irreversible myocardial damage and therefore would not benefit from revascularisation.

On the scan, regions of the heart that were dysfunctional but not hyperenhanced before revascularisation were more likely to experience improvement in the global mean …