DIAGNOSIS?
How are YOU diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome?
1. Medical history
The doctor will ask you about your past medical history and also your family's medical history as this is an inherited syndrome.
Question examples:
"Have you ever had any heart diseases, eye problems or spine problems?"
"Have
you experience any shortness of breath, palpitations
or chest pain?"
2. Physical examination
The doctor will do a physical examination on you to check the curve of your spine and also the shape of your feet. The doctor will refer a set of guidelines called
Ghent criteria to diagnose Marfan syndrome. The doctor will check your heart and lungs too.
3. Echocardiography test
Echocardiography is a painless test that uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart and blood vessels mainly aorta for Marfan Syndrome. This test can show the size and shape of heart and also the diameter of the blood vessels. It also shows how well the valve and heart chambers are working.
4. MRI
Many of you heard of MRI but do you actually know what it means and how it works? NO?
ohmy...
Haha kidding! OK MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. MRI uses radio waves and magnets to create detailed pictures of the organs and tissues. MRI is used to check the heart valves and aorta.
5. CT SCAN
CT scan means computed tomography and it uses an x-ray machine to get clear and detailed pictures of the organs. Its just the same as MRI as it is used to check the heart valves and also the aorta.
DID YOU KNOW??
MRI and CT scans are also used to check for dural ectasia, a nervous system complication of Marfan Syndrome
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