Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
False Positive in Thallium Stress Test
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
False Positive in Thallium Stress Test
by David-Weinstein, Jan 12, 1999 12:00AM
I suffered from a severe blockage in the RCA and moderate in the LAD. After
Thallium stress test showed ischemia in areas covered only by the RCA, angioplasty
was performed on the RCA (this site and ccf were great help in the decision
making process). 3 weeks later I had another Thallium stress test, which
shows similar results in ischeia (EKG showed depression again as well)as
prior to the angioplasty. However, the effort related angina symptoms are
gone and the second Thallium test was "brutal" in effort, compared to
the first one. I still suffer from reflux, for which I am treated,
so there is heartburn and slight pain in the throat on and off.
I was told that we may have a case of false positiveness becasue of the
proximity to the time of the angioplasty, since the heart muscle may have
been in "hybernation" in that area, and need more time for the cells to
take on the Thallium. I was told to come back in 3 months.
How credible is this "hybernation" hypothesis? I can understand that the
Thallium, brought to the cell by the blood, may not reach. However, why
should the EKG show a deression, why should it disappear after more time?
Is it really necessary to wait that long?
Dear David
I am not sure why the stress test was done at three weeks, as your angina appears to have gone away. The ST depression could very likely be a false positive. The abnormal thallium is less likely to be a false positive, but with the timing so close to the angioplasty it is possible that your heart is still recuperating. However, if I had done the thallium at three weeks (which I would not have done unless you had convincing symptoms), I would proceed with a catheterization. But again, I would not have done a thallium in the first place, unless I suspected something, because now both you and your doctors are in the uncomfortable position of having an abnormal test result with no great explanation of why. It is, however, somewhat reassuring that the LAD territory does not appear ischemic, even after maximal stress (unless the LAD is supplying part of the RCA territory).
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck.
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.
