Aa
What is Myocardiac (Myoview) perfusion imaging suppose to find?
I have just done the Myocardia perfusion scanning today. The imaging procedure takes 2 days. Yesterday I was chemically stressed before I was injected with the radioactive solution before scanning. Scanning was done after an hour later. Today the subsequent procedure is called the Rest Test/scan and the final result is only expected in 2 weeks.
I have not heard this type of procedure before and I am also not sure how reliable this type of scan can be. What can I expect from this test result.
I have not heard this type of procedure before and I am also not sure how reliable this type of scan can be. What can I expect from this test result.
Last Thursday I got my Myocardia scan results and I was told I do not need to go for Angiogram. My heart oxygen supply to the heart seems good and normal. The oxygen level at stress was 68 % and at rest was 87% (may be the other way round). What these reading mean? what are the ranges of oxygen should be?
It can give clues to how severe a blockage is but it could also go the other way, and not show blockages which actually exist. It is a little bit complicated but I will put it in very basic terms for you.
We are born with tiny vessels across the heart called collaterals, but they are not in use until required. Not everyone experiences these special vessels coming into action, but most do. If a blockage occurs in one of your major coronary arteries, these collaterals can open and form a natural bypass. This will give the illusion on the scan that your arteries have no problems, because blood is being delivered through the collaterals, bypassing the blockage. If you don't have sufficient collaterals opened to allow for much exertion, then the scan will see this. The scan will also see heart muscle affected by lack of oxygen if you have a blockage and no collaterals open. An Angiogram is a better way for observing the arteries, but it is not non-invasive. Angiograms also have limitations, for example, many collaterals are far too small to be seen during this procedure. So, a blockage may seem severe, but the heart muscle is under no threat because the cardiologist cannot see the collaterals at work. However, the two procedures together can give a really big picture of what is going on.
A nuclear scan is a good test, it shows how healthy your heart muscle is, by showing how much oxygen is being used. If you have a blockage, yet have lots of open collaterals and no symptoms of Angina, then there is no need really for stenting or bypass surgery.
I hope I have been clear enough for you, if you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.
We are born with tiny vessels across the heart called collaterals, but they are not in use until required. Not everyone experiences these special vessels coming into action, but most do. If a blockage occurs in one of your major coronary arteries, these collaterals can open and form a natural bypass. This will give the illusion on the scan that your arteries have no problems, because blood is being delivered through the collaterals, bypassing the blockage. If you don't have sufficient collaterals opened to allow for much exertion, then the scan will see this. The scan will also see heart muscle affected by lack of oxygen if you have a blockage and no collaterals open. An Angiogram is a better way for observing the arteries, but it is not non-invasive. Angiograms also have limitations, for example, many collaterals are far too small to be seen during this procedure. So, a blockage may seem severe, but the heart muscle is under no threat because the cardiologist cannot see the collaterals at work. However, the two procedures together can give a really big picture of what is going on.
A nuclear scan is a good test, it shows how healthy your heart muscle is, by showing how much oxygen is being used. If you have a blockage, yet have lots of open collaterals and no symptoms of Angina, then there is no need really for stenting or bypass surgery.
I hope I have been clear enough for you, if you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Hi ed34,
Thank you for the clear and concise explanation. Do this finding shows the percentage of the arteries blockage or I have to do the angiogram?
Thank you for the clear and concise explanation. Do this finding shows the percentage of the arteries blockage or I have to do the angiogram?
Hi,
You are injected with an isotope which basically clings to your red blood cells which carry oxygen in the blood. This will show which heart tissue is using oxygen and how much. So, you have two scans, as you indicated. You have one with the heart stressed and one with the heart at rest. The one at rest will show if oxygen is being used by all the muscle and the different levels of absorption are shown as different colours. A dimmer area could suggest a blockage in an artery for example. However, in most cases of the rest scan, the image looks ok, with the exception of a dark area which would indicate a prior heart attack that has killed some muscle. The stress one will show if you have enough oxygen to the muscle when the heart is working harder. Obviously, the harder the heart works, the more oxygen is needed. So, if a blockage of say 80 % is present in a coronary artery, this will show the heart muscle as a dimmer colour in that vicinity.
You are injected with an isotope which basically clings to your red blood cells which carry oxygen in the blood. This will show which heart tissue is using oxygen and how much. So, you have two scans, as you indicated. You have one with the heart stressed and one with the heart at rest. The one at rest will show if oxygen is being used by all the muscle and the different levels of absorption are shown as different colours. A dimmer area could suggest a blockage in an artery for example. However, in most cases of the rest scan, the image looks ok, with the exception of a dark area which would indicate a prior heart attack that has killed some muscle. The stress one will show if you have enough oxygen to the muscle when the heart is working harder. Obviously, the harder the heart works, the more oxygen is needed. So, if a blockage of say 80 % is present in a coronary artery, this will show the heart muscle as a dimmer colour in that vicinity.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
