I had some shortness of breath and pain in the centre of my chest when I did exercise. My doctor sent me for an echocardiogram and a myocardial perfusion test.
The echocardiogram was sufficient but I went for the perfusion test as well.
I'm very concerned now about the radiotracer used they said it was 9 msv of Myoview.
Has anyone had myocardial perfusion test? And were they concerned about putting radioactivity in their body?
Every day you breathe in naturally radioactive particles in the air, and eat naturally radioactive particles in your food. The average person gets a bit less than 3 mSv a year this way.
You also get a bit from cosmic rays (more if you fly as the air is thinner the higher you are), bringing the average total up to about 3 mSv/year.
So I wouldn’t want to be getting a perfusion scan every year, but I’d be happy enough with the odd one.
I know radiation is natural, however the dosages that are given of the tracer are different at different facilities. They are measured in MSV units.
The hospital said they use 24 MSV, which equals over seven years of background radiation all at once. I just want to know is that OK, getting a dosage like that all at once? Or can someone explain it better to me
Radiation is cumulative so only the total amount is predictive of cancer risk, not how fast or slow you get it.
Oh, OK, thanks that's good to know.
I've had two Perfusion tests. Not concerned about the radioactive issue. The small amount is far outweighed by the information the test can give your clinician. You are advised to avoid close contact with children or pregnant women for 24 hours only, so not considered to be a dangerous dose anyway. They would no doubt be issuing more restrictions if it were. Please don't worry, they know what they're doing.
I had mine two weeks ago and had the same thoughts. However the half life of the radioactive material is very short so the activity is gone in a few hours.
I did learn that they measure the blood flow exiting the muscles thereby identifying which ones are in poorest condition. This means they can better identify which part would benefit from a stent or bypass. Very clever 🤔
Myocardial bridge 
Being referred for an angiogram and anxious 
Myocardial perfusion scan.
MRI Cardiac Myocardial Viability
