MUGA Scan Accurate Assessment of Cardiac Ejection Fraction

The heart is a powerful muscle that ensures that blood pumps throughout the body. To understand how well it is functioning, doctors often measure something called the ejection fraction (EF), which is the percentage of blood the heart pumps out with each beat. One of the most accurate tests to measure this is a MUGA Scan.

Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy places are alternative facilities where people can undergo modern nuclear medicine to complete an accurate and dependable heart check-up.

What Is a MUGA Scan?

MUGA is a Multiple Gated Acquisition scan. It is a nuclear medicine procedure that diagnoses the functioning of the heart pumps particularly the left ventricle.

A small amount of radioactive trace gets attached to red blood cells. A special camera films the movement of the tracer through the heart in relation to every beat of the heart.  The images are synchronized (gated) with the ECG signal to measure how much blood is pumped out with each contraction. A MUGA scan is among the most accurate methods of determining EF since it is very precise.

What Is Ejection Fraction?

EF is a primary measurement of the heart's activity. It measures the amount of blood that is expelled at each beat by the left ventricle.

• A normal EF is usually between 55% and 70%.

• A lower EF may indicate heart weakness or heart failure.

• A very high EF can also suggest certain cardiac conditions.

Accurate EF measurement is essential for diagnosing and managing heart diseases.

Why Do Doctors Recommend a MUGA Scan?

Physicians can recommend a MUGA scan under several circumstances: 

Monitoring Chemotherapy Effects

There are chemotherapy drugs that are toxic to the heart. To ensure the safety of the heart, a MUGA scan is performed to monitor EF before, during, and after the treatment.  

Heart Failure Evaluation

It demonstrates the severity of the heart failure and assists in planning treatment.  

Cardiomyopathy Assessment

MUGA scan shows the exact pumping strength when the heart muscle is weak or enlarged.  

Pre-Surgical Evaluation

Before certain types of heart surgery procedures, physicians require a correct EF.

How is the Procedure Is Performed?

MUGA scan is simple and lasts approximately 1-2 hours. The tracer is initially administered in a small amount into a vein. It sticks to red blood cells. The patient is told to lie on a table, and a gamma camera captures pictures of the heart from numerous angles.

The scan is not painful; the patient does not sleep and remains awake during the scan. ECG electrodes are connected in order to match the pictures with every heartbeat.

MUGA Scan vs Other Cardiac Tests

ECHO is frequently used, but MUGA is selected when a highly accurate measure of EF is required, such as chemo monitoring.

Benefits of MUGA Scan

There are several significant benefits associated with the MUGA scan:  

• Highly accurate ejection fraction measurement

• Reproducible results for follow-up comparisons

• Useful in chemotherapy monitoring

• Non-invasive and relatively quick

• Helps guide heart failure treatment

Its accuracy causes it to be commonly applied when cancer patients are undergoing heart-reactive medications.

Is the MUGA Scan Safe?

Yes, the MUGA scan is safe. It utilizes a low level of radiation, which remains safe. A few side effects occur, but pregnant women are advised to inform their doctor in advance before undergoing the test. The procedure allows most of the patients to immediately resume normal activities without any hospitalization.

How does it help in Treatment Decisions?

The correct EF measurement is quite significant in selecting treatment. In case the EF reduces during chemo, the physicians might modify or suspend the treatment to save the heart. Factors such as EF rates can be used to make decisions about medicines, implantation of devices such as pacemakers, as well as a lifestyle guide for heart failure patients.

Due to the consistent outcomes of MUGA, the test assists doctors in observing minute improvements in heart function over time.

Conclusion

MUGA scan is an excellent method of measurement of heart ejection fraction that is highly reliable and accurate. It plays a central role in the monitoring of chemo patients, examination of heart failure, and treating heart failure.

In Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, we provide high-level nuclear imaging that offers accurate heart examinations, which can help physicians maintain heart health effectively.