Hi Rinaina,

I talked to my oncologist about his today and here's her answer:
the MUGA is not subject to human interpretation as the ECHO is and so it is more reliable. A cardiologist interprets the ECHO and each cardiologist may interpret it differently, whereas the MUGA is a machinated process measuring the muscle that is the problematic reason for the test in the first place. She said there are ways to make the ECHO work, but that the best test in her opinion is the MUGA.

I am scheduled for my third MUGA on the 29th so I was interested to know and I am so glad you brought it up so I could ask about it.

Best to You,

Donna

Thanks for the input on muga vs. echo. I think I remember reading things along those lines as well about the mugs. I suppose either way, it's close enough to what they are concerned about hopefully. Good luck on your next muga.

Donna, Thank you so much for explaining the difference between MUGA & ECHO. I for one appreciate it. I have always gotten ECHO's. I have really questioned my latest one? That day the lady that did my ECHO had a brand new machine to learn. So someone was teaching her how to use it while doing my ECHO. Right in the middle of my ECHO a total power outage! Then they had back-up generators kick on. They mentioned losing SOME of my results during the blackout. (Again, NEW machine.)

So they finished up and when I recieved my last ECHO it states my EF rate at 70%. Thats exactly what my FIRST ECHO was BEFORE the start of chemo/herceptin. (I also over heard the two women saying that the parameters had NOT been set for this machine yet and they were going to have to WAIT till the doctors did that, and agreed on what they would be.)
I'm hoping the doctors got this right because I really find it hard to believe my EF is exactly the same as the day I started herceptin 10 months ago? But if it is...sounds great to me. http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...lies/smile.gif

But it sounds like a MUGA might be more accurate although its more invasive due to the radioactive dye. I might ask if I could have at least one MUGA to compare to my EHCO's.

Chelee