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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Thallium Test Procedure
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.
Thallium Test Procedure
by SpiritLightSpeed, Jul 30, 2003 12:00AM
I have a question about a thallium test that I had. I was given the thallium test a little while ago and on the stress part of the test I was given some drug to elevate my heart and simulate excercise, many of the pvcs and pacs I complain of showed up, even on the resting test and scan done the previous day. After being given the drug to stress our hearts there was a technical problem with the scanner and I was not scanned for a further 3 - 4 hours I think to be exact I was 'stressed' at 9am and scanned about 12:40 that morning. Would the results from the scan be valid ? or should the test be repeated again ? Many thanks for this board it is such a helpful resource to us all.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jul 30, 2003 12:00AM
SpiritLightSpeed,
Thanks for the post.
Yes, the results would be valid. The thallium is trapped in the heart cells during the stress portion, and then the radiation gradually decays. A 3-4 hour delay should not be a problem. Additionally, the doctor interpreting the test at any good center will ask that the scan be repeated if the radiation count numbers are low -- he/she doesn't want to sued!
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the post.
Yes, the results would be valid. The thallium is trapped in the heart cells during the stress portion, and then the radiation gradually decays. A 3-4 hour delay should not be a problem. Additionally, the doctor interpreting the test at any good center will ask that the scan be repeated if the radiation count numbers are low -- he/she doesn't want to sued!
Hope that helps.
Thankyou that indeed did help and has put my mind at ease and made me happy in the fact that I have a structurally sound heart :-) Thankyou once again.