Myocardial Perfusion Imaging- Treadmill & Pharmacological


Also referred to as a nuclear stress test, myocardial perfusion imaging is performed to study how well blood flows through the heart. Myocardial perfusion imaging is also performed after a heart attack to assess for damage to the heart muscle. Testing can be done while the patient is at rest or while exercising on a treadmill.

A radioactive tracer is administered into the bloodstream and absorbed by healthy heart muscle tissue. The radioactive element in the tracer is very small. When images are obtained afterward, the healthy tissues and the damaged tissues will appear differently. The defects or cold spots left on the images will indicate the damaged areas.

The treadmill is used to assess blood flow when the heart is stressed from exercise. Some patients are not able to exercise on a treadmill, so a pharmaceutical test is done (administering medicine to increase the heart rate like exercising would).

A special camera is used to detect the radioactive tracer inside the body. Images are taken during the stressed period and again when at rest to allow for comparison of the two sets of images.

Myocardial perfusion imaging is one of many tests available at Stanislaus Cardiology. Call 209-521-9661 for all your cardiac needs.

Also referred to as a nuclear stress test, myocardial perfusion imaging is performed to study how well blood flows through the heart. Myocardial perfusion imaging is also performed after a heart attack to assess for damage to the heart muscle. Testing can be done while the patient is at rest or while exercising on a treadmill.

A radioactive tracer is administered into the bloodstream and absorbed by healthy heart muscle tissue. The radioactive element in the tracer is very small. When images are obtained afterward, the healthy tissues and the damaged tissues will appear differently. The defects or cold spots left on the images will indicate the damaged areas.

The treadmill is used to assess blood flow when the heart is stressed from exercise. Some patients are not able to exercise on a treadmill, so a pharmaceutical test is done (administering medicine to increase the heart rate like exercising would).

A special camera is used to detect the radioactive tracer inside the body. Images are taken during the stressed period and again when at rest to allow for comparison of the two sets of images.

Myocardial perfusion imaging is one of many tests available at Stanislaus Cardiology. Call 209-521-9661 for all your cardiac needs.