Myocardial Perfusion SPECT What is it? A myocardial perfusion
SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) study, also
called a cardiac stress-rest test, helps your doctor evaluate
your heart’s blood supply. Two sets of images showing blood flow
are obtained: the first following a period of rest, and the
second following a period of stress (i.e., exercise). This is
how it works: - The technologist injects a radiotracer into a
vein. A radiotracer is a compound made of a radioactive isotope
and a pharmaceutical agent. In the radiotracer used for
myocardial perfusion SPECT, the pharmaceutical part keeps the
tracer in the blood until it is filtered out by the kidneys. -
The radioactive isotope releases energy, and a special camera
creates an image from it. The image shows any area with abnormal
blood flow indicating a problem in the heart or vessels. What is
it for? Myocardial perfusion SPECT is used to evaluate damage
that might have been caused by a myocardial infarction (heart
attack) and to assess the p