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MUGA Scan (Radionuclide Angiogram)

Occasionally your physician may want an accurate assessment of your heart function at rest only and not with stress. This is most commonly utilized for persons about to undergo chemotherapy treatment involving medications that may be toxic to the heart. This test, known as a MUGA scan or radionuclide angiogram (RNA), involves an injection of a small amount of imaging agent followed by a single resting scan. The scan is done primarily to determine the heart’s “ejection fraction,” which is a measure of the percentage of the heart’s pumping volume compared with its total volume of blood.

Before the Test
On the day of your test, you should wear lightweight and comfortable clothing.
During the Test
During the MUGA scan, you will lie on an examination table. The procedure involves an intravenous injection and approximately a 20-minute scan of your heart, however you should allow approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes for the entire test.
After the Test
After the procedure you may leave without restrictions. There are no after-effects from the procedure and no risks or complications associated with a MUGA scan. A cardiologist and a radiologist will interpret the scan and report their findings to your primary care doctor.

Other Information

Other tests for this sub-specialty

 

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