Radionuclide Ventriculogram
(MUGA - Multi Gated Acquisition Scan) Cardiology What is the Radionuclide Ventriculogram (MUGA) Test? A Radionuclide Ventriculogram iˢ a non invasive test that uses a radioisotope to assess the function of your heart ventricles. It provides a movie-like image of the beating heart. What is the purpose of the test? This test assesses your heart function at this moment in time so that if repeated it can be used to monitor its function over time. This allows your doctor to determine the health of the heart’s major pumping chambers.
How is the test done? This test may takes about an hour. Before the test, a small plastic tube is inserted in one of the veins on your hand. An injection containing a pharmaceutical agent called stannous pyrophosphate will be given 15 minutes before the injection of radioisotope via this plastic tube. Electrocardiogram leads will be hooked up to your body. You will then be asked to lie down on an imaging scanner for the images to be taken. The images will be processed and an ejection fraction will be calculated which determines how strong your heart is functioning. Preparation before the test There are no special preparations needed for this test.