What Is Involved In A Nuclear Stress Test?
This is a scintillation scan (gamma camera or photoscan) involving the use of thallium-201, a radioisotope.
The radioisotope is administered intravenously and localizes, like calcium, in the myocardium (heart muscle).
A scintillation camera produces an image of the distribution of the radioisotope. Areas of inadequate perfusion (blood flow) appear as "cold spots," thus pinpointing sites of myocardium (heart muscle) at risk.
Various nuclear scans have been developed to provide your doctor with...
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