Key result
Thallium stress tests demonstrate 70% to 92% sensitivity and >70% specificity for detecting coronary artery disease requiring revascularization in patients with chest pain.
Why the study?
What is the accuracy of thallium stress tests for detecting coronary artery disease in persons with chest pain?
What is the accuracy of thallium stress tests for detecting coronary artery disease in persons with chest pain?
Thallium stress tests offer moderate to high sensitivity (70-92%) and moderate specificity (>70%) for detecting clinically significant coronary artery disease in patients with chest pain.
Variable accuracy warrants cautious interpretation in chest pain evaluation; leaves open need for standardized validation studies.
Evidence-Based Answer In appropriately referred patients with chest pain, the sensitivity of thallium stress tests is 70% to 92% to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring revascularization (SOR: B, evidence-based guidelines). Specificity is probably more than 70%, but estimates vary widely (SOR: C, studies with significant heterogeneity).
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Mehlenbacher et al. (2014) studied this question. Thallium stress tests demonstrate 70% to 92% sensitivity and >70% specificity for detecting coronary artery disease requiring revascularization in patients with chest pain.
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