Investigation
Myocardial Perfusion Scanning (MPS)
Functional assessment of heart disease using small amounts of radioactive tracer.
Overview
Myocardial perfusion scanning is used to evaluate coronary artery disease. The scan uses a small amount of radioactive substance (thallium or technetium) which can be used to produce pictures of your heart. When the tracer is injected into the blood stream it travels to the heart muscle through the coronary arteries. The process can be visualized by a special camera. The test provides similar value to the Dobutamine Stress echocardiogram (DSE ), and again has better sensitivity and specificity than an exercise treadmill test (ETT ).
What happens during an MPS
You will be asked to walk on a treadmill or if you are unable to do so we will give you a medicine to simulate exercise. Your heart rhythm will be monitored with an ECG and your blood pressure will be recorded several times. The tracer will be injected through a vein approximately 1 minute before you stop exercising. You will then be asked to lie flat on a imaging table whilst a special camera circles slowly around your chest for about 30 minutes. You will be asked to stay in the department and not to exercise and 4 hours later the test will be repeated without any exercise.
What Happens after
After your MPS your images will be analysed and the results forwarded to your consultant cardiologist. If large areas of heart disease are found it is likely that you will need an angiogram.
How LCC Helps
LCC conduct MPS, when required, through the imaging centre at the local hospital. To find out more about the various cardiac investigations we offer at LCC, click below and fill in the form below to get a quick call back.