May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Heart Disease Abnormal ekg image the same before and after
Abnormal ekg image the same before and after |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I recently had a nuclear stress test. The results were ekg was abnormal but nuclear image was the same before and after the test. The doctor has schedualed a catherization because he says it means either no problem or 3 arteries may be blocked. i have no angina besides mild when did stress test. He tells me to relax and wont answer why he waited over a week to tell me this (so doesn't sound serious. and another week before i get the catherization. Is it possible the abnormality in ekg can be explained if no difference in images ? Dear James: I do understand your concern. Often cardiac test results may disagree with each other and it becomes very difficult for a doctor to diagnose the problem. Studies have shown that normal thallium-201 perfusion study is 87-89% sensitive and 73-75% specific in diagnosis a significant stenosis (more than 50%) of the coronary arteries. If an electrocardiogram and a nuclear study have different findings, more importance is generally placed on the nuclear study than the electrocardiographic results. However catheterization will definitely reveal the extent of the blockage if one is present. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 16 January 2012 ) |
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