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.
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| Last updated: | January 18, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, George Philippides, MD - Cardiology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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