Imaging Protocols
Suggested Cardiolite® Two-Day Stress/Rest1,2
A two-day protocol may be attractive to patients unable to schedule both the stress and rest portions on the same day. This protocol optimizes image quality for heavier patients and is recommended for patients weighing more than 250 pounds or Body Mass Index (BMI) >30 .1
Stress Portion — Day One- Patient undergoes exercise of pharmacologic stress
- Inject with 20–30 mCi of Cardiolite® at peak (exercise) stress, or at the specified time if pharmacologic stress agent is used
- Begin exercise stress scan 10–20 minutes after Cardiolite® injection
- When using pharmacologic stress, begin imaging 45–60 minutes after Cardiolite® injection
- Inject with 20–30 mCi of Cardiolite®
- Administer rest injections 30–60 minutes prior to imaging
Two-Day Stress/Rest Algorithm
Stress Portion — Day One
Rest Portion — Day Two
- Provides flexibility in scheduling because a patient only needs to be scheduled for a single study given a specified day
- Image quality is likely improved because the patient receives a maximal dose for both the stress and rest image
- Preferable for heavier patients (those patients weighing more than 250 pounds)1
- Both the stress and rest studies can be gated to obtain functional information
- Image acquisition can be repeated if there is significant patient motion or instrument malfunction
- This sequence may be more inconvenient for patients with their work schedule or the availability of transportation to the clinic
- Henzlova MJ, Duvall WL, Einstein AJ, et al. ASNC imaging guidelines for SPECT nuclear cardiology procedures: Stress, protocols, and tracers. J Nucl Cardiol. 2016;23(3):606-39.
- Cardiolite® [package insert]. N. Billerica, MA: Lantheus Medical Imaging.