Online guidelineStress protocols and tracers
Section snippets
Exercise stress test
Exercise is the preferred stress modality in patients who are able to exercise to an adequate workload (at least 85% of age-adjusted maximal predicted heart rate and five metabolic equivalents).
Pharmacologic vasodilator stress
NOTE: Some of the pharmacologic stress protocols described in this section fall outside of manufacturer package insert guidelines but have been documented in the literature and are now used commonly in the clinical practice of nuclear cardiology.
Radiotracers
Currently utilized myocardial perfusion tracers for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging include thallium 201 and two technetium 99m agents (Tc-99m sestamibi and Tc-99m tetrofosmin). Characteristics for each tracer, typical protocol, and dosimetry are presented.
NOTE: Some of the radiopharmaceutical doses described in this section fall outside of the manufacturer package insert guidelines but are now commonly used in the clinical practice of nuclear cardiology.