A MUGA (Multigated Acquisition) scan is an imaging test that evaluates how your heart pumps blood. It measures a percentage called ejection fraction (EF), which is the percentage of blood that your heart pumps out each time it contracts. The test uses an injection of a substance called a radionuclide and a specialized camera to take pictures of your heart as the radionuclide travels through your blood. The MUGA scan measures how your heart muscle contracts and relaxes while you rest or exercise. Other names for MUGA scans include radionuclide ventriculography (RNVG) and equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) .

A healthcare provider may order a MUGA scan to check for conditions such as heart failure. It can also be used to check for heart problems in patients with certain past cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy drugs or other cancer drugs that may damage the heart. The MUGA scan may take up to 3 hours to complete, depending on how many pictures are needed.

The MUGA scan measures the amount of blood pumped out of your ventricles, and a result of 50% to 75% is considered in the normal range. Results below 50% or above 75% can mean that there is a problem with your heart, including heart damage from chemotherapy.

A MUGA scan is an outpatient procedure, which means most people go home the same day as the procedure. The test is usually done in the nuclear medicine department of a hospital, and before you have any nuclear medicine test, it is important to tell the nuclear medicine staff if you are breastfeeding or pregnant or think you may be pregnant.