What is a MUGA scan?
A MUGA scan is a nuclear medicine exam that takes pictures of your heart to assess the size and function. MUGA scans are most often used for two reasons:
- Heart Failure: If you’re showing signs of heart failure like chest pain, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath, a MUGA scan can precisely detect how well your heart is functioning.
- Cancer Treatments: MUGA scans are also used before and after cancer treatments. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy can damage your heart. Doctors use MUGA scans to get a baseline for your heart function before treatment begins and as a follow-up to treatment to assess damage.
What are risks of a MUGA scan?
The risk to other people is very low, so these scans are considered safe and effective ways to diagnose disease.
How does a MUGA scan work?
A nuclear medicine technologist starts an IV in your arm. They will withdraw a small amount of blood and mix that blood with a radioactive material (35 minutes) and will re-inject your blood back into your IV. Three EKG leads are placed on your body and a special camera is then used to take 3 images of your heart. Each of those pictures take 5 minutes. The technologist will use those images to measure the ejection fraction (EF) of your heart (how much blood your heart squeezes out every time it contracts.) A value of >50% is considered normal LVEF (left ventricle ejection fraction).
What should I expect after my MUGA scan?
It usually take 24-48 hours for your doctor to receive a report. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radiotracer out of your body, what does not get flushed out of your body will decay out. There are no other restrictions.