The gold standard . . . is here.
Heart One Associates provides the preferred first-line non-invasive test for patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease who meet the criteria for a stress imaging test.
Your Guide to Cardiac PET/CT Imaging
Remember no caffeine 24 hours before your exam
What is Cardiac PET/CT MPI?
A cardiac PET/CT MPI exam provides accuracy, excellent quality, and the ability to detect disease before symptoms are present. This extremely effective imaging tool can diagnose cardiac disease with greater certainty and lower radiation exposure than traditional stress testing and is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary heart disease. Doctors use this exam to evaluate the health of your heart by measuring the blood flow it receives. The results of this exam are used to help determine if treatment is needed or to manage your current treatment.
Safety
Cardiac PET/CT MPI scans are safe and effective diagnostic imaging tests.
The tracer used is not a dye or contrast, which causes minimal radiation exposure and enables a far shorter test.
How to Prepare
Follow the instructions that are provided by Heart One Associates to successfully prepare you for your scan.
Remember, no caffeine for 24 hours before your test, and do not eat 4 hours prior to your test.
What to Expect
Most cardiac PET/CT exams take less than one hour; however, a longer exam should not be cause for concern. Upon arrival, our team will ask questions about your medical history; please report all medications you are taking.
Trained medical personnel will be with you throughout your exam. An intravenous line will be placed in a vein in your arm to allow medication administration during the exam.
Small pads called electrodes will be placed on your chest to monitor your heart’s electrical activity throughout the study. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram are monitored before, during, and after the test.
You will be asked to lie down on a padded, comfortable scanning table developed especially for the PET/CT camera. During your PET/CT scan, the majority of your body is outside the scanner; this is not a full body scan like an MRI. If you’re claustrophobic, please take your medication as directed by your physician.
A small diagnostic amount of the radioactive imaging agent is given through your intravenous line, enabling the PET/CT camera to capture images of your heart. The camera will take pictures of your heart in two phases, aresting and stress phase.
Results
Our physicians who have specific expertise in stress testing and imaging will receive a report detailing the findings of your scan. Heart One Associates will follow up with you in the upcoming days with your scan results.
After Your Exam
In most cases, you may leave as soon as your cardiac PET/CT MPI study is complete.
You will be able to eat, drink, and return to your normal daily activities.