Nonexercise Stress Thallium Imaging Using Dipyridamole Coronary Vasodilation

Pharmacologic stress testing using dipyridamole thallium imaging is emerging as a useful alternative to exercise thallium testing in patients who are unable to perform adequate exercise. In this review we summarize the mechanism of dipyridamole’s affect, the hemodynamic and clinical observations frequently associated with dipyridamole thallium testing and discuss clinical protocols for test performance. In addition, we review studies which have compared dipyridamole thallium testing with exercise thallium imaging. Finally, we discuss the clinical instances where dipyridamole thallium imaging is especially useful as well as some of the side effects and limitations of this technique.