MUGA Nuclear Scan

• Used to assess the heart muscle’s strength of contraction
• MUGA stands for multiple gated acquisition scan.
• Nuclear refers to the radioactive tracer that is injected into the bloodstream to allow a specialized camera to take images of the tracer in the red blood cells of the heart which will show the heart wall motion
• The nuclear tracer is radioactive but you will receive the same or less radiation than a typical x-ray.

The MUGA scan will allow the doctor to determine:

• If your heart has sustained damage and to what degree
• An accurate and reproducible method for monitoring and measuring the ejection fraction of the heart
• Repeated MUGA scans are useful in following cardiac function during chemotherapy. Some chemotherapeutic agents can be quite toxic to the heart muscle. Measuring the LVEF during a chemotherapy session can help determine if it is safe to start or continue therapy.

The Muga scan is comprised of:

• Blood is drawn from the arm to attach a radioactive tracer to the red blood cells. The tagged red blood cells are then injected back into the bloodstream.
• Laying under a special camera which is able to detect radiation given off by the tagged red blood cells.
• The patient will be connected to an EKG to monitor the heart rhythm
• The tagged red blood cells fill the heart chambers and an image is produced by the camera as an outline of those chambers
• The final results will give an ejection fraction from the left ventricle, which is reported as a percentage.

• Plan to be at CVI for 1 hour. If you bring someone with you, they will not be permitted into the testing area.
• Please tell the staff if you may be pregnant or are nursing.
• Wear a button-down short sleeve shirt (no metal buttons or zippers). Do not wear necklaces. Please bring a jacket or sweater, as the department may be cold.
• Take your usual medications, unless told otherwise. Drink plenty of water (water only).