Myocardial scintigraphy (also known as myocardial perfusion SPECT-Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) is a non-invasive examination performed in a Nuclear Medicine Laboratory using a small amount of radioactive material TL-201 (thallium). This material is detected by a γ-camera scanner and creates images of the heart that provide information about:
- Normal blood flow to the myocardium
- Myocardial ischemia, which means a significant degree of narrowing of one or more coronary arteries.
- The presence of myocardial infarction, which corresponds to myocardial scarring, a consequence of necrosis of myocardial cells in the area.
The examination is performed in two stages:
- The patient undergoes a physical stress test (exercise). At approximately the maximum of fatigue, the radiopharmaceutical is administered intravenously, which is bound by the myocardial cells that are well oxygenated. This is followed by an imaging study of the myocardium (scintigraphy) with a γ-camera.
- The scintigraphy is repeated again three hours later. The two scintigraphic studies are analyzed and evaluated by the Nuclear Physician.
The examination is safe. The radiopharmaceutical that is administered does not cause allergies or other adverse reactions, but only burdens the examinee with a small amount of radiation, like other examinations that are performed with ionizing radiation (e.g. CT scan).
