Radionuclide ventriculography is also called multiple-gated acquisition scanning or just MUGA scan. This nu-clear medicine test involves injecting a small amount of radioactive dye into a vein, then taking pictures of the heart as it pumps blood. Technicians use a special cam-era to obtain images of the heart during rest and immediately following exercise on a treadmill. Like an echo, this test shows how much blood the heart can pump with each beat.
The dye used for this test is typically iodine based. If you or any of your family members has ever had allergic reactions to shellfish (which contain iodine) or to iodine itself, be sure to tell the doctor before having this procedure. The results of these tests also allow the doctor to determine the nature of the problem with the heart. The doctor uses this information, along with the ejection fraction reading, to determine what treatments would be most effective.
Victoria’s comment: The radionuclide ventriculography was the type of heart scan that I had when I was first diagnosed. Now my cardiologist likes to use the echocardiogram to measure my ejection fraction. It’s also a lot more convenient for me to go to his office rather than the hospital. Also, with the echocardiogram, I don’t have to have an IV or get injected with dye.