Cardiolate stress test?

  After a bout of tachycardia, I had a treadmill test and an echocardiogram. Echo came back normal and my impression was that the treadmill test went well, but they suggested a "cardiolate'' test. When I asked the doc's assistant what that was, the answer was pretty confusing. Anyone know what it is, and what they'd be trying to find with it? (I'm 48, m, exercise regularly, no cardiac history).

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

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Dear TBill,
Thank you for your question.  A cardiolyte test is a nuclear stress test to look at ischemia (lack of blood flow) to the heart.  I suspect that something was noticed on the stress test and your doctor wants some additional information.  Below is additional information on nuclear testing.
Basically there are two parts to a nuclear imaging test.  The order they are done may vary.  There is a "rest" portion of the test where the underlying status of the blood supply to the heart is determined.  The second portion is a "stress" portion.   The stress may be induced with a treadmill, bicycle or chemicals.  This portion of the test determines the presence of "ischemia" that is lack of blood flow to the heart.  A third picture is sometimes taken later to check for what is called "hibernating myocardium" that is heart tissue that is not getting much blood flow but is still alive.  Each portion may be done on the same day or on different days depending upon the protocol.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.