tetrofosmin at a glance
Medicine class
Diagnostic radiopharmaceutical
Main licensed role
Imaging heart-muscle blood flow, ischaemia or infarction in adults
Administration
Prepared with technetium-99m and injected into a vein by authorised nuclear-medicine staff
After administration
Good hydration and frequent bladder emptying help reduce radiation exposure
What is tetrofosmin used for?
Licensed diagnostic uses in adults include:
Supporting diagnosis and localisation of reduced heart-muscle blood flow or myocardial infarction.
Assessing left-ventricular wall motion and ejection fraction using ECG-gated SPECT.
Helping characterise a suspected malignant breast lesion when recommended initial assessments are inconclusive. It is not licensed for breast-cancer staging, and a negative scan does not exclude cancer.
How does tetrofosmin work?
After injection, tracer uptake by heart muscle reflects coronary blood flow. Technetium-99m emits gamma radiation detected by a gamma camera, revealing areas with relatively reduced uptake. Limited evidence also shows uptake into some breast-tumour cells.
How to take tetrofosmin
Tetrofosmin is not self-administered. Authorised staff prepare the kit with sodium pertechnetate technetium-99m and inject it into a vein in a designated clinical setting.
Follow the department’s instructions about food, caffeine and regular medicines; preparation varies by examination and stress method.
Tell staff about all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal medicines.
Tell staff beforehand if pregnancy is possible or you are breastfeeding.
Drink fluids as directed and empty your bladder regularly afterwards.
tetrofosmin side effects
Common or expected effects
- No adverse effects are classed as common. Uncommon effects include metallic taste, flushing, vomiting and feeling warm.
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reactions can cause hives, facial swelling, throat tightness, bronchospasm, breathing difficulty, low blood pressure or shock.
- Chest pain, rapid heartbeat or marked dizziness require prompt assessment by the supervising clinical team.
- Ionising radiation carries a small long-term risk; staff minimise exposure while obtaining the required diagnostic information.
tetrofosmin in pregnancy
Tetrofosmin is contraindicated during pregnancy because radionuclide imaging exposes the fetus to radiation. Tell the nuclear-medicine team before the examination if pregnancy is possible or a period is late so alternatives can be considered.
tetrofosmin while breastfeeding
Tell the nuclear-medicine department in advance if you are breastfeeding. Small amounts enter breast milk, so breastfeeding may need to be interrupted and expressed milk discarded. Follow the department’s patient-specific radiation-safety instructions.
tetrofosmin interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. Medicines affecting heart function or coronary blood flow can alter scan accuracy.
Beta blockers
May reduce detection of coronary artery disease, potentially contributing to a false-negative result.
Calcium-channel blockers
May change myocardial function or blood flow and affect scan interpretation.
Nitrates
May alter coronary blood flow and reduce the visibility of perfusion abnormalities.
Common questions about tetrofosmin
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is tetrofosmin radioactive?
The kit is not radioactive before preparation. Adding technetium-99m produces the radioactive tracer used for imaging.
What does it show in a heart scan?
It shows blood-flow distribution through heart muscle, helping identify reduced perfusion or damage.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.