A MUGA scan assess the heart’s wall motion and overall pumping ability. It is often ordered to monitor the effects of cardiotoxic chemotherapy, and allows for quantification of left ventricular ejection fraction.
The benefits of a MUGA scan include:
- Accurate Measurement of Heart Function: A MUGA scan provides a highly accurate assessment of the heart’s ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each heartbeat. This is crucial for diagnosing and managing heart conditions.
- Monitoring Heart Disease: It is often used to monitor patients with heart disease, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, as certain treatments can affect heart function. Regular MUGA scans can track changes and help adjust treatment as needed.
- Non-Invasive and Safe: The procedure is non-invasive, involving only the injection of a radiotracer, and it is considered safe with minimal radiation exposure compared to other imaging techniques.
- Detailed Ventricular Analysis: The MUGA scan provides detailed images of the heart’s ventricles, allowing for precise evaluation of their size, movement, and pumping efficiency.
- Predicting Outcomes: By providing a clear picture of heart function, a MUGA scan can help predict patient outcomes, guide treatment decisions, and determine the effectiveness of interventions.