A cardiac PET scan is designed to help assess a patient’s heart health by producing clear, detailed images of the biological processes within the heart and arteries at the cellular level. PET is able to distinguish healthy portions of tissue from damaged and scarred tissues, as well as blockages, narrowing of blood vessels, and other symptoms of heart disease.
Using what is known as a radiotracer, PET scans highlight issues in the inner workings of the heart muscle. Some of these can include:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Various types of blockages that impede blood flow in the heart
- Tissue damage after a heart attack or stroke (this includes tissue that is scarred or dead)
Additionally, PET scans of the heart are used to assess the success of ongoing or new treatments. They also aid physicians in determining the next step in treatment planning, such as distinguishing the benefits between an angiogram test versus moving directly to surgical intervention.
Does A Cardiac PET Scan Only Scan for Heart Issues?
Cardiac PET scans are only utilized to identify issues that are affecting the heart and blood flow within the heart. However, PET scans can be and are used to diagnose a variety of conditions in numerous medical fields, including cancer and brain disease or injury.
Invest in Nuclear Imaging Tests for Your Practice
If you are looking for a way to make access to cardiac PET-CT scans more readily available to your patients, then contact us at Cardiac Imaging today to discuss our mobile cardiac imaging services and fixed site PET imaging solutions. We help bring these life-saving diagnostic tests directly to your patients, assisting with the system build-out, staffing, cardiac PET scan protocol training, and more.
To learn more about our services, contact us at Cardiac Imaging today!
