A nuclear stress test uses radioactive material and imaging to show how well your blood flows through your heart while at rest or under stress through exercise.
The experts at UPMC use state-of-the-art nuclear stress test technology, including the advanced D-SPECT® nuclear cardiology camera, to deliver accurate results, develop individual treatment plans, and provide ongoing care to patients with a range of heart conditions.
A nuclear stress test — also known as nuclear cardiac imaging — measures blood flow to the heart at rest and after activity. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into your arm, and a special camera scans your heart.
It's one of the most common tests doctors at UPMC use to diagnose many cardiovascular conditions.
There are a few variations of nuclear stress tests, including walking on the treadmill for people who can tolerate exercise and pharmacologic (medicine) agents to stress the heart for people with little or no exercise tolerance.
UPMC experts use the D-SPECT® nuclear cardiology camera, which offers many benefits over conventional nuclear cardiac imaging. Benefits include:
Patient comfort
Faster, safer imaging
Accurate results
Nuclear studies include a Multi-Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) scan. A MUGA scan is performed using an IV injection and a gamma camera. A resting MUGA scan is a nuclear scan to evaluate how well the heart walls move and how well the heart pumps while you are at rest.
Most MUGA scans take approximately one hour and follow a specific procedure:
You may be given a nuclear stress test if your doctor suspects you have coronary artery disease or another heart problem, including:
Your doctor may also recommend a nuclear stress test to determine whether you have viable cardiac tissue (viability exam) or learn about your cardiac health prior to surgery.
A nuclear stress test is generally safe, but like any medical procedure, it can have risks. These may include:
Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take and ask if you should make any changes to your medicines or to your diet before the test. You will receive instructions before your scheduled nuclear stress test, including:
Typically, your appointment will take 2 to 4 hours. Some of this time is spent preparing for the test and waiting for your heart to absorb the tracer.
The time required for performing the stress test and acquiring the images is about an hour, but the actual exercise portion of the test will take 7 to 12 minutes. In some cases, the testing may be broken up into two days.
There are three main steps to a nuclear stress test:
Step One:
Step Two:
Step Three:
The exercise portion of a nuclear stress test takes 7-12 minutes. If you are unable to exercise, you may be able to receive medication that increases your heart rate.
After completing your test, you can resume your normal activities immediately.
After a nuclear stress test, you should be able to return to your regular daily routine with no downtime.
As long as you are feeling well, you should be able to drive yourself home after a nuclear stress test.
You should call your doctor if you experience any complications after your nuclear stress test, including:
After the test, a doctor will read the scan. The types of information that may be obtained from your scan include whether:
If you have had a prior scan that is available for comparison, your doctor may be able to get information about the effects of treatment on your heart.
Results of a nuclear stress test may include:
The nuclear cardiology experts at UPMC have access to the most advanced nuclear stress test technology. Depending on your exam results, we will develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. If you need additional care, our experts offer a full range of treatment options — including open and minimally invasive surgery using the latest techniques.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-01.
