Get Virtual Care
Thallium stress test
A radioactive isotope of thallium, often 201, is injected iv. Heart muscle cells pump some of the radioactive thallium inside; less if blood flow past the cells is limited. Thus cells (or scar tissue) with low blood flow intake less thallium & emit less radiation. A gamma camera detects some of the radiation which exits the body. Only severe, not mild, artery disease complications can be detected.
Dr. Milton Alvis, jr reviewed this
43 year experience in Preventive Medicine
Related questions
A 33-year old asked:
What is a thallium stress test procedure?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: thallium stress test?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 39-year old asked:
Do you have to stay away from people after a thallium stress test?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old asked:
Having thallium stress test on heart, is it painful?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
Can a person who has epilepsy and takes medication for it receive a thallium stress test safely?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old asked:
Can my regular doctor do the thallium stress test in his clinic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 71-year old male asked:
Which test is more accurate a cardiac petscan or thallium stress test? Why is one or the other chosen by cardiologists?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 41-year old male asked:
Left sided chest burning / tearing sensation when spontaneously exert or walk fast. Neg thallium stress test in 2009 and 2013. Echo showed mvp. Ideas?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 41-year old male asked:
Inner left arm ache. Two weeks now. Armpit to hand. Tricep aches also. Normal thallium stress test 04/09 and pet st 01/13. Cardiac? Nerve? Thanks
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A member asked:
After angiogram, bypass surgery was suggested as 75% blockage in all arteries. Another doctor suggested thallium stress test. Will it help?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old male asked:
Thallium dipyridamole stress test with the radioactive chemical given is it true that it is dangerous to be near babies and children after procedure?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 76-year old female asked:
I have a question about radiation I received 1995 age 52 from thallium cardiac stress test. I am now 76 24 years later Am I still at risk for cancer from that and 2nd part. no more radiation until 2015 in my 70's ?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
What is the 'stress thallium test'?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old asked:
What is the risk of the thallium for persantine stress test?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
If stress thallium test showed that I was normal, what are my chances of getting a heart attack?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 71-year old male asked:
Are thallium stress tests and echocardiogram stress tests equal in their accuracy? Why would one be prescribed over the other?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 42-year old asked:
What do you recommend if I had 2 stress test done a exercise one and a thallium one on both my heart rate dropped wha could cause it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 36-year old female asked:
Tomorrow i'm getting a nuclear stress test w cardiolite. Worried about side effects and reaction to the thallium or whatever they use. Should i worry?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
What is the risk of the thallium injected during a persantine stress test?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 51-year old male asked:
My husband 51yoa, went in to ER for chest pains on sept 4. Triopinins were all negative. Stress test done following day. Said they only injected thallium but he tacked out at 144, lips turned blue was brought to icu for 2 days, throwing pvc's and fast hea
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
Had a thalium stress recently that turned out normal. What kind of test should I get to make sure my cartotid artery is not blocked?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 36-year old female asked:
Getting a stress echo done next week. Can thallium (cardiolite) cause a heart attack or is it the actual activity that can cause ha during testing?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 63-year old female asked:
Right side chest pain radiates to shoulder, side of neck, jaw. Lasts about 5 minutes & eases away. Thallium stress, echo, EKG normal. Is it heart prob?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 54-year old male asked:
Could a man with a big belly stomach triggers false positive thalum nuclear stress result and show shadow or false blockage at lower side of heart. ?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 61-year old female asked:
After taking the Persantine thallium test my dr., informed me of the following; Decreased count rate in the anterior wall; reversible ischemia;; ?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
Can you tell me what is difference between thallium test and angiography ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old male asked:
Years ago i had 25+ radiation tests of various types. Cts, thallium, vq, x-rays. I'm worried if i ever have another i'll get radiation sickness?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 61-year old female asked:
What does decreased count rates in the anterior septal region with small area of reversibility mean? I had the Thallium test, ekg, and echo tests .
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old male asked:
Whats the difference between stress test and stress echo?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A female asked:
Will a nuclear stress test make me radioactive? Im having a nuclear stress test, and i need to know if its safe for me to babysit my grandkids after it? Will i be radioactive? Could i be dangerous to the kids?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
