CHICAGO, March 5 (UPI) -- A new U.S. study found magnetic resonance imaging detected nearly twice as many sources of stroke in the heart than echocardiogram alone.
However, echocardiography was strong in the detection of heart-valve lesions. Combined, these imaging systems more clearly identified underlying causes of future stroke, helping doctors decide the best initial therapy and the best treatment to prevent a secondary stroke, according to the findings presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 32nd annual scientific meeting.
"This can revolutionize patient care because we can detect the underlying cause of the stroke and prevent it from occurring again," lead author Dr. John Sheehan of Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital said in a statement.
"A potential cardiac source should be considered in all patients presenting with ischemic strokes. All stroke patients should routinely have an MRI and ultrasound of their heart, in addition to having their brain and carotids imaged with CT and MRI," he said.
