Why Is the Test Done?

A scan may be done in the following cases:

• After a heart attack, to assess how much damage was done to the heart muscle
  
• In patients with heart failure and/or heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), to assess the size and pumping strength of the ventricles
  
• During chemotherapy for cancer, to monitor the ventricles’ pumping strength (some cancer drugs can be harmful to the heart muscle)
  
• An exercise MUGA scan may be done to detect poor blood flow to the heart muscle, which often indicates coronary heart disease
  

Preparing for a MUGA Scan