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Question:
My father has a mechanical heart valve. Can he have an MRI for a shoulder problem?
My father has had a mechanical valve since 2010 and we recently found out he has what can be a tumor on his shoulder to the lower pit. Can he get an MRI done?
submitted by Alma from Fresno, California on 2/23/2014
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiovascular surgeon, Denton A. Cooley, MD
Our MRI specialists tell us that mechanical heart valves currently available commercially are MRI-compatible. The facility where the MRI is to be done may want to contact your father's surgeon to get details about the specific valve prosthesis which was implanted.
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Updated February 2014
