Many tests help West Michigan Heart cardiologists determine whether a patient has significant coronary atherosclerosis, or blockages of the blood vessels feedign the heart.  Some tests involve Nuclear Cardiology, in which small doses of radioactive tracer substances are given to the patient. The tracers collect in the heart muscle or in the blood stream. Pictures of the heart are then obtained using a special device.  These tests are performed in conjunction with a stress test.

One study, the "perfusion study" is a test where a radioactive isotope (usually thallium or technetium) is used in extremely small quantities to show which parts of the heart are receiving an adequate blood supply when the patient is resting or exercising, and to show the strength of the heart muscle.

Another type of test is called a "blood pool study".   In this test, the blood cells themselves are labeled with an extremely small amount of radioactive tracer. Pictures of the blood in the heart are then obtained with the nuclear camera. This type of test can produce very accurate and reproducible measurements of heart strength and size and are typically used when studies of heart strength over time are desired. This type of test is also referred to as a radionuclide ventriculogram or MUGA scan.

What are the advantages of a nuclear cardiac study? For many patients, a standard stress test without any pictures taken of the heart is adequate. If the patient's baseline electrocardiogram is abnormal, however, a routine stress test may not be diagnostic and an imaging test like the nuclear study is essential. In addition the routine stress test is notoriously unreliable in women where false test results are common. Nuclear stress tests are able to accurately assess both women and men. In addition, the nuclear test can give valuable information about how much of the heart is in trouble, which can help your physician plan the most appropriate therapy for you. Finally, additional information about heart strength is easily attainable with nuclear tests but not with a standard stress test.