What is a Myocardial
Perfusion Imaging Scan
(Thallium Scan)?
Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) Scanning is a
non-invasive technique used to evaluate the extent of heart
disease. Under normal circumstances the coronary arteries
supply oxygen to the heart muscles. When these arteries
become blocked or narrowed, the heart may not receive enough
oxygen leading to chest pain or breathlessness. This scan
is a Nuclear Cardiology Imaging technique using the
injection of small amounts of a radioactive (thallium)
substance into the blood stream. The injected thallium can
be visualised as it travels through the arteries to the
heart before, during, and after exercise by a special gamma
camera.
How do I know
if I need the test?
If you have had chest pain or angina, or previous cardiac
events you may benefit from this test. Our specialist
Nuclear Cardiologists can advise you whether you need the
test and answer any questions you may have.
How do I prepare
for the test?
Do not eat or drink any products containing caffeine for 12
hours before the test. This includes coffee, tea, coca cola
and chocolate. Do not eat anything for at least 4 hours
before the test. If you are diabetic however you may take
medication for your diabetes and you may eat normally as you
would. You may drink water at any time but you must not
smoke for 3 hours before the test. You should wear
comfortable clothing and low-heeled shoes or trainers so
that you can walk on the treadmill.

How long will
the test take?
The scan can be performed either in one day or two days. In
some case, a two day scan is preferred. Please contact us
for further information.
What will happen
during the test?
We will normally ask you to walk on a treadmill or if you
are unable to do so we will give you a medicine to simulate
exercise. Your heart rhythm will be monitored with an ECG
and your blood pressure will be recorded at several times.
The radioactive marker will be injected through a vein
approximately 1 minute before you stop exercising. You will
then be asked to lie flat on an imaging table while a
special camera circles slowly around your chest for about 5
to 6 minutes. You will be asked to stay in the department
and not to exercise and 4 hours later the test will be
repeated without any exercise. The data from your test is
processed.
What will the
test result tell me?
We would hope to have your report the following day and the
result will tell you the presence or extent of heart disease
What happens
next?
Depending on what the scan reveals our doctors may recommend
treatments such as medication, or an invasive procedure.
What is the
Heart-Scan advantage?
Coming in June 2010 - IQ SPECT and SMARTZOOM collimators
will reduce scan time from 30 min to 6 min! One and
Two-day protocols will both be much faster.
