Muga scan

A MUGA (multigated acquisition) scan is a scan of your heart and blood flow. This type of scan shows how well your heart pumps blood to the rest of your body.

During this test, a small amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer is injected into one of your veins. A camera detects the tracer as it flows through your heart.

The camera takes a series of pictures of your heart. Each picture is taken at a specific time of the heartbeat. The pictures are strung together so that they look like a video of your heart's motion and the blood moving through it.

A MUGA scan is done to check the size of the chambers of the heart and how well your heart muscle pumps blood to the rest of the body.

Before the test

• You will need to remove any jewelry that might interfere with the scan.
• You may need to take off all or most of your clothes.
• You may be given a cloth or paper gown to wear during the test.

During the test

• You will lie on an exam table below the camera. Small pads or patches (electrodes) will be attached to your chest.
• The injection site on your arm will be cleaned. A needle will be put into a vein and a blood sample will be taken. Then the tracer will be added to the blood, which is put back into your vein. You may feel a quick sting or pinch when the needle is put into your arm.
• The camera will be positioned close to your body. It may be put in different places across your chest to get different views of your heart.
• The camera will take pictures as the tracer moves through your bloodstream and into your heart. It is important not to move during the scan.
• You may be asked to:
  • Change position for each different view.
  • Do some exercise between scans to see how well your heart functions after the stress of exercise.

After the test

• After your scan, you will probably be able to leave the testing room right away.
• You may have to wait at the test center until all of your scan pictures have been reviewed. If you moved during the scan and the pictures turned out blurry, the scan may have to be done again.

• You may be asked not to eat or drink for a few hours before the test.
• You may be asked to not have any caffeine or smoke for a few hours before the test.
• If your test will include exercise, wear comfortable shoes and clothing.