What is a thallium scan used for?

A thallium (or cardiolite) scan uses a radioactive tracer to see how much blood is reaching different parts of your heart. These tests are the more common forms of tests called nuclear medicine scans.

How is thallium scan done?

A radioactive substance, such as thallium or sestamibi, will be injected into one of your veins. You will lie down and wait for between 15 and 45 minutes. A special camera will scan your heart and create pictures to show how the substance has traveled through your blood and into your heart.

How painful is a nuclear stress test?

The nuclear scanning machine never touches you and taking the images is not painful. Your positioning on the table should be comfortable. Tell your care team if you are uncomfortable or if you are having trouble breathing. The exercise and stress test portion of the test should also be painless.

What happens in a thallium stress test?

You will lie on an x-ray table, and the doctor will give you thallium through your IV. Thallium acts like a dye so a gamma camera can show the movement of blood through your body. A gamma camera is a medical imaging device that detects gamma radiation. You’ll raise your heart rate.

How long are you radioactive after a nuclear stress test?

The radioactive liquid will be in your body for 24 to 36 hours after your test.

Is thallium toxic to humans?

Thallium is considered a cumulative poison that can cause adverse health effects and degenerative changes in many organs. The effects are the most severe in the nervous system.

Can a person drive after a nuclear stress test?

While you are walking on the treadmill, a second small amount of Myoview is administered. Following the treadmill test, there is another waiting period followed by a second imaging scan. If you are an outpatient, you will be permitted to drive after your test is completed.

Does a nuclear stress test show blocked arteries?

The test can show the size of the heart’s chambers, how well the heart is pumping blood, and whether the heart has any damaged or dead muscle. Nuclear stress tests can also give doctors information about your arteries and whether they might be narrowed or blocked because of coronary artery disease.