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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Thallium stress test
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Re: Thallium stress test
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on March 09, 1999 at 06:39:10:
In Reply to: Thallium stress test posted by Virginia on March 07, 1999 at 12:26:20:
Finding this link has been so great. I had a myocardial stress scan with spect.. Please explain the findings to me as one time I am told I have angina and the next visit a "probable heart attack". Makes you feel like you are in limbo and don`t know if you should travel or what. IMPRESSION: A small perfusion defect involving distal anterior myocardial wall demonstrating some improvement on the delayed images and therefore some ischemia and possible injury. No other perfusion defects". My echocardiogram showed normal LV size and function....LA normal in size and no pericardial effusion. A question of borderline increased septal thickness." Tell me doctor, just where do I stand....two different opinions....need a third so I can get on with my life and to know if medications are warranted. Am on HCL 25 mg and Diovan 80 mg for hypertension. THANKS!!!! By the way, the carotid results were: Amall amount of plaque identified in the right carotid bulb. No obvious abnormality on the left side." 69 yo female..widow.
Dear Virginia,
Firstly let me say that this is not a forum for diagnosis, nor "medical opinions", rather it is an informational forum.
Secondly, I do not see where there are "two opinions" in the information you give me.
Thirdly, no test in medicine is 100%accurate and the test results must be interpreted in light of the clinical history and presentation.
Now, to explain the thallium test so that maybe you will better understand the results.
Thallium stress is a test of blood flow distribution to the heart muscle via the coronary blood vessels.
A defect that doesn't change from beginning to end of test usually represents scar (however it could also be an "artifact" related to
amount of tissue infront or below the heart, i.e. between the camera and the heart.)
A defect that improves or fills in or "improves" on the delayed images is possibly representative of ischemia (i.e. decreased blood flow to that area of the heart
with exercise/stress.) Again it could be artifact, and thus one can never just look at the results and know what is going on let alone what is the next step in the patients care, rather
the whole picture needs to be considered, including how your heart rate, blood pressure and ecg did during the stress portion of the test.
Discuss these issues with your physician, preferably your cardiologist.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
In Reply to: Thallium stress test posted by Virginia on March 07, 1999 at 12:26:20:
Finding this link has been so great. I had a myocardial stress scan with spect.. Please explain the findings to me as one time I am told I have angina and the next visit a "probable heart attack". Makes you feel like you are in limbo and don`t know if you should travel or what. IMPRESSION: A small perfusion defect involving distal anterior myocardial wall demonstrating some improvement on the delayed images and therefore some ischemia and possible injury. No other perfusion defects". My echocardiogram showed normal LV size and function....LA normal in size and no pericardial effusion. A question of borderline increased septal thickness." Tell me doctor, just where do I stand....two different opinions....need a third so I can get on with my life and to know if medications are warranted. Am on HCL 25 mg and Diovan 80 mg for hypertension. THANKS!!!! By the way, the carotid results were: Amall amount of plaque identified in the right carotid bulb. No obvious abnormality on the left side." 69 yo female..widow.
Dear Virginia,
Firstly let me say that this is not a forum for diagnosis, nor "medical opinions", rather it is an informational forum.
Secondly, I do not see where there are "two opinions" in the information you give me.
Thirdly, no test in medicine is 100%accurate and the test results must be interpreted in light of the clinical history and presentation.
Now, to explain the thallium test so that maybe you will better understand the results.
Thallium stress is a test of blood flow distribution to the heart muscle via the coronary blood vessels.
A defect that doesn't change from beginning to end of test usually represents scar (however it could also be an "artifact" related to
amount of tissue infront or below the heart, i.e. between the camera and the heart.)
A defect that improves or fills in or "improves" on the delayed images is possibly representative of ischemia (i.e. decreased blood flow to that area of the heart
with exercise/stress.) Again it could be artifact, and thus one can never just look at the results and know what is going on let alone what is the next step in the patients care, rather
the whole picture needs to be considered, including how your heart rate, blood pressure and ecg did during the stress portion of the test.
Discuss these issues with your physician, preferably your cardiologist.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
