How to Diagnose Ischemia
When a doctor examines your history and does a physical exam, you may have to undergo texts to determine the location of ischemia:
In most cases, the most popular recommended tests for ischemia anywhere in the body include:
- Doppler ultrasound
- CT angiogram (CTA)
- Angiogram
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
If your doctor suspects you have ischemia in the heart, you may undergo the following tests:
- Stress testing
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Blood tests
- Holter monitor
- Radionuclide imaging (thallium stress test)
- Cardiac catheterization
If your doctor suspects you have ischemia of the brain, you may undergo tests like:
- Brain MRI
- Auscultation of arteries in the neck with a stethoscope
- CT scan
- Digital-subtraction cerebral angiogram (DSA)
- Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan
If ischemia is suspected in the legs, tests may also include:
- Auscultation, performed using a stethoscope
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
- Ultrasounds
- CT scan arteriogram