A nuclear stress test measures the extent of blood flow to the heart (i.e., myocardial perfusion).
Our physicians use this in conjunction with a patient’s stress test, and it can be conducted on a tread-mill, a stationary bicycle or by means of infusion of intravenous drugs to accelerate the heart rate. After the patient receives a small dose of radioactive tracer (thallium or technetium), physicians use a gamma camera to visualize the distribution of blood in the myocardium.
