

Heart Procedures - Myocardial Perfusion Scan, Resting

(Resting Thallium Scan, Cardiac Nuclear Imaging, Cardiolite® Scan, Sestamibi Scan)

Procedure overview

What is a resting myocardial perfusion scan?

A myocardial perfusion scan is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive tracer), 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 radionuclide is a radioactive substance used as a "tracer," which means it travels through the blood stream and is taken up (absorbed) by the healthy heart muscle tissue. On the scan, the areas where the radionuclide has been absorbed will show up differently than the areas that do not absorb it (due to possible damage to the tissue from decreased or blocked 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. This is done by injecting a radionuclide (thallium or technetium) into a vein in the arm or hand.

There are different types of radionuclides. When one type of radionuclide is used, areas of the myocardium that have blocked or partially blocked arteries will be seen on the scan as "cold spots," or "defects," because these areas will be unable to take in the radionuclide into the myocardium. Another type of radionuclide binds to the calcium that is released when a heart attack occurs, so it will accumulate in area(s) of injured heart tissue as a “hot spot” on the scan.

Other related procedures that may be used to diagnose heart disorders include resting and exercise electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Holter monitor, signal-averaged ECG, cardiac catheterization, chest X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart, myocardial perfusion scan (stress), computed tomography (CT scan) of the chest, echocardiography, electrophysiological studies, radionuclide angiography, and cardiac CT scan. Please see these procedures for additional information.

Illustration of the anatomy of the heart, view of the coronary arteries
Click Image to Enlarge

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the coronary arteries (the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle), caused by a buildup of fatty material within the walls of the arteries. This process causes the inside of the arteries to become rough and narrowed, limiting the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.



Like any pump, the heart requires fuel in order to work. The myocardium requires oxygen and nutrients, just like any other tissue in the body. However, the blood that passes through the heart's chambers is only passing through on its trip to the rest of the body. This blood does not give oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium. The myocardium receives its oxygen and nutrients from the coronary arteries, which lie on the outside of the heart.

Illustration of a normal and diseased artery
Click Image to Enlarge


Fortunately, the technology is available to restore blood flow to heart tissue when coronary artery blockages are diagnosed. One of several procedures used to diagnose and evaluate coronary artery disease is the resting myocardial perfusion scan.

Reasons for the procedure

Possible indications for a resting myocardial perfusion scan may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Chest pain, either new onset or occurring over a period of days or longer
  • Following a heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI)
  • To assess blood flow to areas of the myocardium that have been reperfused (coronary artery blood flow restored) by bypass surgery, angioplasty (the opening of a coronary artery using a balloon or other method), or stent (a tiny expandable metal coil placed inside the artery to keep the artery open

Risks of the procedure


If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should notify your health care provider due to the risk of injury to the fetus from myocardial perfusion scan. If you are lactating, breastfeeding, you should notify your health care provider due to the risk of contaminating breast milk with radionuclide. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may lead to birth defects.

Patients who are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dye, iodine, tape, or latex should notify their doctor.



  • Caffeine within 24 hours of the procedure
  • Digitalis, quinidine, or nitrate medications

Before the procedure

  • Notify your doctor if you are allergic to or sensitive to medications, local anesthesia, contrast dyes, iodine, tape, or latex.
  • Fasting may be required before the procedure. Your doctor will give you instructions as to how long you should withhold food and/or liquids. You should refrain from eating or drinking anything that contains caffeine for at least 24 hours prior to the procedure. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications contain caffeine and should be avoided. Some over-the-counter medications that contain caffeine include Anacin, Excedrin, and NoDoz.
  • Notify your doctor if you have a pacemaker.

During the procedure

A resting myocardial perfusion scan may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your doctor’s practices.

Generally, a resting myocardial perfusion scan follows this process:

  4. You will be connected to an ECG machine with leads and a blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm.
  6. The radionuclide will be injected into a vein in your arm or hand.
  7. After the medication has circulated through your body (10 to 60 minutes depending on the radioactive tracer being used), the scanner will begin to take pictures of your heart. In a special kind of imaging test, called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), the scanner will rotate around you as it takes pictures.
  8. You will be lying flat on a table while the images of your heart are obtained. Your arms will be positioned on a pillow above your head. It will be necessary for you to lie very still while the images are being taken, as movement can adversely affect the quality of the images.
  9. If you experience any symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, extreme shortness of breath, or severe fatigue at any point during the procedure, let the doctor or technologist know.
  10. After the scan is complete, the IV line will be discontinued, and you will be allowed to leave, unless your doctor instructs you differently.

After the procedure




Your doctor may give your additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.

Online resources



American College of Cardiology

American Heart Association

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Library of Medicine


Click here to view the
Online Resources of Heart Center

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