California Cardiac Institute has its own nuclear imaging center on site. Cardiac nuclear imaging uses radioactive "tracers' to check the blood flow through the heart in order to detect any coronary artery disease.

The most common term for the nuclear imaging test performed at C.C.I. is a "Stress Thallium Test." During this procedure, a small amount of radioactive material is first injected into the patient's vein. After a short time (about 20-30 minutes), the patient lies down under a special camera that takes pictures of the heart at rest. After the resting pictures the patient exercises on a treadmill and at peak exercise receives another injection of a very small amount of radioactive material. When the exercise is finished, the patient is sent to eat and instructed to return for a second set of pictures under the camera. The second set of pictures show if there is any lack of blood flow to any areas of the heart.

The data from the test is then interpreted by a specially qualified physician experienced in interpreting nuclear studies. With these results, the patient's doctor can advise if further procedures are recommended.

For any questions regarding nuclear imaging and the Stress Thallium Test, please call the California Cardiac Imaging Center at 818.956.3864.