Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Nuclear ventriculography (MUGA or RNV)

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Cardiac blood pooling imaging; Heart scan - nuclear; Radionuclide ventriculography (RNV); Multiple gate acquisition scan (MUGA); Nuclear cardiology


Normal Values

Normal results indicate that the heart squeezing function is normal. The test can check the overall squeezing strength of the heart (ejection fraction). A normal value is above 55%.

The test also can check the motion of individual parts of the heart. If one part of the heart is moving poorly while the others move well, it may mean that there is a blockage in the artery of the heart that delivers blood to the damaged part.


What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may indicate:

  • Blockages in the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease)
  • Heart valve disease
  • Other cardiac disorders that weaken the heart function
  • Past heart attack (myocardial infarction)
  • Poor pumping function

Other conditions under which the test may be performed:

  • Atrial septal defect
  • Dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Heart failure
  • Idiopathic cardiomyopathy
  • Peripartum cardiomyopathy
  • Senile cardiac amyloid

Review Date: 05/22/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)