What is a stress myocardial perfusion scan (Nuclear Stress Test) ?
A myocardial perfusion scan is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a medically safe radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive tracer), is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the tissue under study. Specifically, the myocardial perfusion scan evaluates the heart’s function and blood flow. A radionuclide is a radioactive substance used as a “tracer,” which means it travels through the blood stream and is taken up (absorbed) by the healthy heart muscle tissue. On the scan, the areas where the radionuclide has been absorbed will show up differently than the areas that do not absorb it (due to decreased blood flow to the area or possible damage to the tissue from decreased or blocked blood flow). A stress myocardial perfusion scan is used to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) when it is stressed by exercise or medication and to determine what areas of the myocardium have decre
A myocardial perfusion scan is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a medically safe radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive tracer), is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the tissue under study. Specifically, the myocardial perfusion scan evaluates the heart’s function and blood flow. A radionuclide is a radioactive substance used as a “tracer,” which means it travels through the blood stream and is taken up (absorbed) by the healthy heart muscle tissue. On the scan, the areas where the radionuclide has been absorbed will show up differently than the areas that do not absorb it (due to decreased blood flow to the area or possible damage to the tissue from decreased or blocked blood flow). A stress myocardial perfusion scan is used to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) when it is stressed by exercise or medication and to determine what areas of the myocardium have decre
