What is a Cardiolite Scan?
A Cardiolite scan is a test that uses a radioactive substance, known as a tracer, to produce images of the heart muscle. When combined with an exercise test, the Cardiolite scan helps determine if areas of the heart are not receiving enough blood. The exercise Cardiolite scan is especially useful in diagnosing coronary heart disease, the presence of blockages in the coronary arteries (the vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle). [Other terms used to describe the Cardiolite scan include: sestamibi scan, myocardial perfusion scan, and cardiac nuclear imaging.] Other tracers, such as thallium, may be used for this type of scan. In some cases, doctors use two tracers during one test (dual-isotope imaging). What Does It Show? During the test, a small amount of Cardiolite tracer is injected into a vein in you arm while you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. The tracer travels in the bloodstream, is carried through the coronary arteries, and is picked up by
