Thalium Stress Test

[GRAHNK@aol.com]

OK, 
Here's one for all you medical folks out there.  One of my people (40 year 
old male) had a 3 week bout with pneumonia last year.  This year when exposed 
to cold outside air (0 degrees and below) he has experienced some central 
(sternum) chest pain that goes away when he doesn't breathe the cold air.  He 
doesn't have any history or family history of cardiac illness.

His family practice physician (not a cardiologist) has ordered a thalium 
stress test.  He's been asking me and we're both wondering why?  It's not 
clear what the doc is looking for.

Does this make sense from an ALARA perspective?  Is there an alternate 
diagnostic procedure that doesn't involve radioactive material?  i.e. echo or 
stress echo

If he proceeds with this procedure what might his expected dose be?

Thanks

Kelly Grahn
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
West Chicago Field Office

grahnk@aol.com
or 
grahn@idns.state.il.us
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