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Reasons to Have a Nuclear Stress Test

A nuclear stress test, also known as myocardial perfusion imaging, is a diagnostic imaging test that uses a small amount of radioactive solution to help doctors get images of the heart. These images are taken through a special camera. The test is divided into three parts: imaging at rest, a treadmill stress test and imaging after exercise. The damaged areas of the heart receive less blood flow and will not be able to properly uptake (or perfuse) the radioactive substance. This will show up on the imaging studies and show the extent of the heart damage. Nuclear stress tests are used to identify several conditions when an exercise stress test alone isn't definitive enough to properly guide treatment.

  1. Coronary Artery Disease

    • The coronary arteries are the big vessels that provide the heart with blood. Sometimes, they become lined with plaques from other conditions such as atherosclerosis. A nuclear stress test will determine whether coronary artery disease is present--and if it is, where it's located--and help to guide treatment. It will also show how advanced the coronary artery disease may be. If you've had chest pain or shortness of breath, a nuclear stress test will help the doctors decide whether these symptoms are related to coronary artery disease.

    Evaluation of Treatment

    • If you have pre-existing heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, it's often helpful for a doctor to order a nuclear stress test to determine how well treatment or previously performed procedures are working. The results can also show how well the heart responds to exercise and determine the level of exercise that you can safely perform.

    Size and Shape of Heart

    • A nuclear stress test can also show the size and shape of a heart to determine whether your heart is enlarged. An enlarged heart may be caused by conditions that cause the heart to work harder, such as heart valve disease or high blood pressure. The imaging study can also measure your heart's capacity to properly pump blood (your ejection fraction).

    Determination of Treatment

    • Sometimes, a nuclear stress test may be ordered to evaluate whether a blockage found during an angiogram requires angioplasty.

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