MRI Better than CT for Diagnosing Heart Disease, British Researchers Say

British researchers say cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) should replace single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) when it comes to diagnosing coronary artery disease, according to a recent study published in the The Lancet. In recent years, doctors have turned to modern imaging tests when diagnosing heart disease rather than the traditional exercise treadmill testing. While CT is widely used, accuracy often varies and the tests expose patients to ionising radiation. The new study by researchers at the University of Leeds found that MRI is actually superior. They conclude that CMR should be used in clinical guidelines rather than SPECT. The study looked at 752 patients, out of which 39 percent had coronary heart disease identified by x-ray angiography. “The sensitivity and negative predictive value of CMR and SPECT differed significantly (p<0·0001 for both) but specificity and positive predictive value did not (p=0·916 and p=0·061, respectively),” according to the study abstract. The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, marks the largest, prospective, real-world evaluation of CMR.