Thallium or Cardiolite Nuclear Stress Testing
Adenosine Nuclear Testing
Adenosine stress testing is a non-exercise stress test that involves radioactive material, either Thallium or Cardiolite, to make pictures of the patient's heart. In most cases, it can determine whether the patient has has coronary artery disease or has had a heart attack in the past. Coronary artery disease is a condition in which deposits form in the blood vessels that supply the heart. When these deposits become severe, they can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. The Stress test is used to assess the presence of coronary artery disease.
This test does not involve walking on a tread mill, instead it involves a medication given through a vein in the patient's arm that will simulate exercise by causing the heart to beat stronger and faster. During this test, the patient will be attached to an EKG machine so that the heart may be monitored. Blood pressure readings are also taken at regular intervals. Most importantly, the patient will be asked throughout the test as to how they are feeling, therefore, it is very important for the patient to report any chest discomfort or other symptoms during the test. At some point in the test, the Nuclear Medicine Technologist will insert the medication, into an I.V. tube which was previously inserted in the patients hand or arm. The patient will feel not feel any different at this time, as the medication has no side effects. The medication is used as a radioactive tracer that enables the imaging camera to take the pictures of the heart. It is not a drug, nor dye of any sort. One may have heard of people having reactions to iodine-based dyes used for angiograms and other procedures. Those types of side effects do not occur with this medication. Because it is radioactive, the patient will receive a dose of radiation, however, it is comparable to that of an X-ray or CAT scan. There is no evidence to indicate any danger from receiving these low amounts of radiation.
Thallium or Cardiolite Nuclear Stress Testing
Thallium or Cardiolite stress testing is a stress test that involves radioactive material, either Thallium or Cardiolite, to make pictures of the patient's heart. In most cases, it can determine whether the patient has coronary artery disease or has had a heart attack in the past. Coronary artery disease is a condition in which deposits form in the blood vessels that supply the heart. When these deposits become severe, they can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. The Stress test is used to assess the presence of coronary artery disease.
1. The test involves the Nuclear Medicine Technologist inserting an I.V. tube into the patient's arm or hand and administering an initial dose of Cardiolite or Thallium. He/she will at this point take baseline images of your heart with a special camera.
2. The patient will not feel any different at this time as the medication has no side effects. The medication is used as a radioactive tracer that enables the imaging camera to take the pictures of the heart. It is not a drug, nor dye of any sort. Because it is radioactive, the patient will receive a dose of radiation, however it is comparable to that of an X-ray or CAT scan. There is no evidence to indicate any danger from receiving these low amounts of radiation.3. You will then be asked to walk on a treadmill for a short period of time, usually about ten minutes. The patient should not be concerned about their ability to walk that long, as the doctor, nurse or technologist administering the test are very experienced and will not ask the patient to exercise beyond their ability. All that is required is that the patient do their best. During this test, the patient will be attached to an EKG machine so that the heart may be monitored. Blood pressure readings are also taken at regular intervals. Most importantly, the patient will be asked throughout the test as to how they are feeling, therefore it is very important for the patient to report any chest discomfort or other symptoms during the test.
About one minute before the patient stops walking, the Nuclear Medicine Technologist will inject, the same medication that was previously inserted in the patients hand or arm, and a second set of pictures will be taken.
The patient may not have any blood drawn for 48 hours following the administration of the radioactive medication.
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Medical Center 5100 W. Taft Road, Suite 4J Liverpool, NY 13088 Tel: 315.452.2611 Fax: 315.452.2612 |
CNY Medical Center 4939 Brittonfield Parkway, Suite 202 East Syracuse, NY 13057 Tel: 315.634.6699 Fax: 315.634.6695 |
Northeast Medical Center 4221 Medical Center Drive Fayetteville, NY 13066 Tel: 315.329.7611 Fax: 315.329.7612 |
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Russell Silverman, M.D., F.A.C.C. |
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