Exercise Perfusion Imaging Test
What is an Exercise Cardiac Perfusion Imaging Stress Test?
Cardiac perfusion imaging is a medical test that involves an injection of a small amount of radioactive substance (tracer) while walking on a treadmill, which circulates in the bloodstream to show if the heart is receiving adequate blood supply under stress and/or resting conditions.
The tracer gives off a small amount of radiation that is detected with a scanning camera. A computer processes the information and produces pictures that show how the tracer is distributed to the heart. If an area of the heart receives less blood than the rest of the heart (because of a narrowed or blocked artery), it will pick up less radioactivity. This will show up as a lighter image and is referred to as a defect.
Pictures (images) are taken after you exercise and while you are at rest. This allows the physician to compare how much blood is flowing to the heart at rest and with exercise.
Exercise Cardiac Perfusion Imaging Stress Test is done to:
- Identify areas of the heart muscle that have an inadequate blood supply
- Quantify the extent of the heart muscle with a limited blood flow
- Provide information about the heart’s pumping function
- Determine the amount of scarring from a heart attack
- Evaluate the success of coronary (heart) bypass surgery or angioplasty