MUGA Question

[MiasMom]

Hi all,

I was just reading the post about the subjectivity of echos... both at dx and at my first follow-up last Friday, I was told that my EF was 40 - 45...

If there is a +/- 5% margin of error (or even 10% as someone mentioned was a possibility), that could make the difference between normal and impaired for me depending on where they're figuring the margin of error from... couldn't it??

Anyway, I'm planning to ask my cardio about that and want to ask him about a MUGA, but don't wan't to sound like a total goofball if I pronounce it incorrectly...

Is it "moo - guh" or "mew - guh" or do you say each letter separately (M-U-G-A)?

Kind of a silly question, I know, but I'd like him to take me seriously as a participant in my health care and, although I kind of am a goofball, I'd rather not advertise it!! :D

Thanks and I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

[Janelle]

I can never remember so I'm probably not helping, but I think that it's actually said like muh-ga, aka IVG scan. Hope I'm right :)

[heartfulloflove]

It's "moo - guh" :D

[MiasMom]

Thanks!!! :d

[Mindyt]

Uh-oh...I remember it as "Muh-guh". When I went in and requested a MUGA myself, I pronounced it "moo-guh" and my cardiologist corrected me and said "Muh-guh". I, myself, am also right on the "borderline" between "normal" and "impaired." My EF was measured somewhere between 40-50% on several echos when I asked for a MUGA scan. My doctor thought my EF was closer to 40% on my last echo but the MUGA scan showed an EF of 48%. So, it got a much more exact number for me which it was nice that it was truely closer to the 50% mark. Now, if I could just get over 50% that would be great!!! Good luck!!! Let me know if you want to know anything else about the MUGA scan. It was kind-of long and boring but nothing too terrible....

[jmonte]

It's definitely Mug-uh. My doctors always refer to it as the "gold standard" for EF measurement. A cardiac MRI is also very accurate. They are very expensive so doctors aren't as quick to order them.

[heartfulloflove]

I go with what it stands for "multi gated aquisition scan" and try to go with how I pronounce multi, which is sorta moo-ish, lol, and my cardiologist sound that way. I think maybe dialect and where we are in the country may influence how stuff sounds too :D

[SarahsMom]

Good question shannon...I often wondered how it was pronounced myself!

Kari