MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING (MPI) TEST
Myocardial perfusion Scan (MPI) is a non-invasive imaging test that shows how well blood flows through (perfuses) your heart muscle. It can show areas of the heart muscle that aren’t getting enough blood flow. This test is often called a nuclear stress test. It can also show how well the heart muscle is pumping.
Why might I need a stress myocardial perfusion scan? Dr. Kartik Bhosale may order a stress myocardial perfusion scan for:
1. Chest pain, either new onset or occurring over days or longer. 2. To diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), narrowing of the coronary arteries. 3. After a heart attack to assess heart muscle damage. 4. To assess blood flow to areas of the heart muscle after coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stent placement. 5. There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend a stress myocardial perfusion scan.
What happens during a stress myocardial perfusion scan? Generally, a stress myocardial perfusion scan follows this process: 1.
An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your hand or arm. You will be injected with the radioactive tracer, wait approximately 30 minutes and then be placed under the camera for resting images.