Cardiac Perfusion Scan: What Affects The Test
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What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
- A recent, serious heart attack.
- Inflammation of the heart, such as myocarditis or sarcoidosis.
- Bruising of the heart muscle (cardiac contusion).
- Weakening of the heart muscle.
- Stiffening of the heart muscle (myocardial fibrosis).
- A severely narrowed heart valve.
- Implanted cardiac devices, such as a pacemaker.
- A condition that makes it difficult to exercise, such as lung disease, arthritis, or a neuromuscular problem.
- Some medicines, such as dipyridamole (Persantine) and pentoxifylline (Trental).
- Severe electrolyte imbalances (especially calcium, potassium, sodium, or magnesium).
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding (except in an emergency).
Test results may be difficult to interpret in scans done on women with large breasts.
| Last updated: | December 24, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS |
| Reviewed By: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Michele Cronen |
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