A myocardial perfusion scan is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the tissue under study. Specifically, the myocardial perfusion scan evaluates the heart’s function and blood flow.
A resting myocardial perfusion scan is used to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) and to determine what areas of the myocardium have decreased blood flow.
A stress myocardial perfusion scan is used to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) when it is stressed by exercise or medication and to determine what areas of the myocardium have decreased blood flow.