A Cardiolite scan is a medical imaging study of the heart to look for signs of ischemia. A radioactive tracer is injected and followed as it is absorbed by the heart. The outcome can indicate whether the patient has a heart condition causing ischemia and can also be used to learn more about the patient’s heart health.
A Cardiolite scan is a medical imaging study of the heart done to look for signs of ischemia, where blood flow does not reach the heart muscle. Ischemia can cause damage to the heart and puts patients at risk for myocardial infarction and other complications. In a Cardiolite scan, a radioactive tracer substance is injected and followed as it is absorbed by the heart. Radiation exposure is very low and the patient’s body expresses it naturally after the test.
A doctor may order a Cardiolite scan if there is a concern about a patient’s heart health. The goal is to examine cardiac perfusion, the distribution of blood in the heart muscle, both when the heart is at rest and when the heart is working hard. Medications can be used to induce cardiac stress or a patient can be used to use a stationary bike or treadmill to increase heart rate.
In a Cardiolite scan, technetium Tc99m sestamibi is injected into the patient while the patient’s heart rate is elevated with exercise or medication. The imaging equipment follows the tracer as it moves through the patient’s bloodstream and into the heart. In a healthy patient, the heart will glow relatively uniformly, showing that the tracer is spreading throughout the heart and indicating that blood is reaching all of the heart muscle. Dark spots indicate that blood is not reaching certain areas of the heart or is reaching them very slowly. The test is repeated with the patient at rest to compare rest and work data.
The outcome of a Cardiolite scan can indicate whether the patient has a heart condition causing ischemia and can also be used to learn more about the patient’s heart health. Some patients may have dark spots on both tests, while others may develop ischemia only when the heart is under stress. Making changes to diet and exercise can help address the problem, and medications and other treatments are also available.
This test takes several hours to complete or can be conducted as two separate tests over two days. Patients should ask about scheduling when testing is recommended to make appropriate plans, and it is also advisable to ask if there are any special preparations to be made before going in for testing. Patients may find it helpful to bring some reading material, as there may be some waiting in settings where entertainment is not readily available.
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