MUGA Scan

What is the purpose of a muga scan?
The muga scan enables physicians to evaluate the ejection fraction of the left ventricle of the heart. This tells doctors how well the heart is pumping.

How is the muga scan performed?
An IV is started in the vein of your arm. A small amount of blood is drawn. This blood is tagged with a small amount of radioactive tracer for about 30 minutes. The blood is returned to your body through the IV. Pictures are taken immediately after the injection.

Three pictures will be taken of your heart from different angels. Each picture will take about 10 minutes to complete. It is important for you to remain still and breathe normally. You should plan for your test to take about one hour and 30 minutes.

How do I prepare for a muga scan?
There are no special preparations necessary for a muga scan.

How will I feel after I have a muga scan?
The radioactive shot will have no effect on how you feel.

How soon will my doctor get the results?
After the procedure is complete, a nuclear medicine physician will study the pictures along with your medical history to make an assessment of what the photos show. He will then dictate a report that will be forwarded to your physician within five to seven business days. If your doctor needs the results sooner, he/she may contact the nuclear medicine physician on the day of the exam.

How do I make an appointment?
Your doctor will write an order or prescription for the test. The doctor will either give you the order or have it faxed to the hospital. You may then schedule your appointment by calling the Nuclear Medicine Department at 847-723-5050.

If I still have questions, who should I call?
For more information about the procedure, please call the Nuclear Medicine Department at 847-723-5050.