A Cardiac PET scan is a latest, non-invasive and highly advanced diagnostic tool in nuclear medicine which provide three-dimensional images of your heart. It utilizes radiopharmaceutical agent and a PET scanner to access heart...
What is Cardiac/Heart PET scan?
A Cardiac PET scan is a latest, non-invasive and highly advanced diagnostic tool in nuclear medicine which provide three-dimensional images of your heart. It utilizes radiopharmaceutical agent and a PET scanner to access heart from every angle.
It helps in better evaluation and identification of areas of heart with decreased blood supply, diseased or damaged cardiac tissues or areas containing scar tissue. It also gives details about the functional activity of myocardial/heart tissues.
A Cardiac PET scan is usually indicated when other tests such as an ECG (electrocardiogram), Echocardiogram or Exercise stress test has failed to furnish enough information.
A Cardiac viability PET scan is a sub-type of Cardiac/heart PET scan which is used to analyze viable/functional myocardial tissue before surgical procedures such as coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty. Thus, a Cardiac PET scan and a Cardiac viability PET scan is a same procedure. The only difference between them is purpose and focus of procedure.
A combined PET/CT or PET/MRI is used to delineate the anatomical and functional details of your heart in the same session.
Why do I need a Cardiac/Heart PET scan?
Cardiac PET scan also known as Heart PET scan is used for detection, diagnosis and evaluation of pathological conditions of your heart and is usually indicated in the following scenarios
1) Coronary artery disease
2) Post-Myocardial Infarction or Heart attack
3) Heart failure
4) Arrythmias
5) Ischemic heart disease
6) Cardiomyopathy
7) Replacement fibrosis
8) Left-ventricular dysfunction
9) Infiltrative disease of heart like Hemochromatosis
10) Granulomatous diseases of heart such as cardiac Sarcoidosis
11) Infectious disease of heart
12) Cardiac Scar
13) Atherosclerosis or microcalcification
14) Amyloidosis
15) Myocardial sympathetic activity
16) Heart block or conduction defect
17) Inflammatory disease of heart such as Acute or chronic myocarditis
18) To evaluate myocardial remodeling processes such as apoptosis, fibrosis and angiogenesis, post heart failure or any fatal cardiac event.
19) Lysosomal storage disease affecting cardiac muscle such as Fabry disease.
20) Cardiac tumors or secondary metastases
22) To evaluate viable myocardium
23) Myocardial hibernation
24) To check eligibility before a cardiac procedure or surgical approach to heart.
25) To monitor efficacy of treatment.
How do I prepare for cardiac PET scan?
Follow these steps before going for Cardiac PET scan or Cardiac viability PET test:
1) Get an appointment- Schedule your appointment in a Diagnostic center having the facility of Heart/Cardiac PET scan or Cardiac viability PET test because it is available in limited centers.
2) Fasting- 4-5 hours fasting is required before Cardiac PET test. 24 hours prior to scan don’t take sugars/carbohydrate in your diet.
3) Medications- Inform your Clinician about all drugs and supplements that you are currently taking for any disease especially Asthma, heart disease and Diabetes. He may do certain modifications.
4) Caffeine- For 24-hours before the scan, avoid caffeinated products such as tea, coffee, chocolates etc. It may alter test results.
5) Smoking and tobacco - On the day of your scan, don’t smoke or chew tobacco products as nicotine present in these substances alter the test results.
6) Pregnancy and breastfeeding- Tell your Doctor about pregnancy if you are pregnant or if you breastfed your baby so that your Doctor can evaluate the risk vs benefit ratio.
7) Exercise- Don’t perform any strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to your test.
8) Allergy- Inform your Clinician about prior history of allergy to any drug or medications.
9) Clothing- Dress yourself in clothes as comfortable as possible and that are easy to put on and off.
10) Medical reports- Don’t forget to carry all relevant medical and lab reports along with you while going for Cardiac PET test. These reports may aid in better evaluation of your condition.
11) Claustrophobia and anxiety - If you have claustrophobia or anxiety disorder then don’t hesitate to tell your Clinician about it. He may give you sedative or some alternatives to help overcome this while performing test.
12) Implants- Inform your doctor about any implant in your body such as cardiac implant, inner ear implants, metallic dentures, neurostimulators or any type of hearing aids etc.
13) Take a company- Get accompanied by friend or family member to have mental, emotional and physical support and to drive you home
What is the procedure for Cardiac PET scan?
The procedure of Cardiac PET scan or Cardiac viability PET scan includes the following steps:
1) Written consent is required before the procedure begins.
2) You will be asked to remove all the metallic elements like jewellry , hearing aids, metallic hair clips, metallic underwired bras, belts, keys ,wallets , coins, cards containing metallic strips , ,goggles etc.
3) You will be then asked to change your clothes and wear a gown provided by the technician assisting the procedure.
4) An intravenous injection of radiopharmaceutical agent is given to you. The most frequently used radiotracers in Cardiac PET scan to evaluate cardiac glucose metabolism is 18f-FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose) where as for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion 13-N-Ammonia, H2O15 or 82-Rubidium is used.
5) You will be then asked to sit for about an hour to allow the radiotracer agent to get distributed to your body tissues and Heart via bloodstream.
6) To track electrical activity of your heart before and during test, your assisting technician will position electrodes on your body for monitoring ECG.
7) Your radiologist may perform a resting scan while you are resting or an active scan while you are active.
8) If PET-CT or PET/MRI is being scheduled then you may get another intravenous injection of a contrast agent which yield high clarity images on CT/MRI scan.
9) You may be provided with head phones or ear plugs to make you feel more comfortable.
10)If you have Claustrophobia or anxiety disorder, then you may be given sedatives or some other alternatives to make you feel comfortable during the scan.
11) Before scan, your assisting Doctor will explain about all the possible adverse effects of using radiopharmaceutical or contrast material such as itching, rash, swelling etc. Your KFT report will be required to rule out any kidney disease/pathology and to check your GFR.
12) Then you will be asked to lie supine on examination table which will slide and place you inside the scanner.
13) You need to lie still during the procedure as body movements may interfere with the quality of images produced.
14) Your Radiologist will take several images to evaluate the underlying pathology and at the end these images will be interpretated for making a definite diagnosis.
What happens after Cardiac PET scan?
* You will be allowed to exit the scanner room once the procedure is over.
* You may be asked to wait in observation room for some time to evaluate any possible side effects of radiotracer or contrast being used.
* Drink water to flush radiotracer or contrast material from your body.
* The whole procedure of scanning takes about 2 hours. Up to 60 minutes are required to begin the scanning procedure after giving an intravenous radioactive agent. Whereas the actual process of PET scan takes approx. 30 minutes. However, it may last longer depending upon the severity of your illness and associated co-morbid conditions.
* Don’t breastfeed your baby for 24 hours post injection of radiotracer.
* You will get reports on the next day. However, you may get the image films on the same day if requested by your Clinician.
What are the risks/side effects of Cardiac PET scan?
Cardiac PET scan is safe procedure. The radioactivity in the radiopharmaceutical agent is very low and it doesn’t stay for longtime in your body. Drinking water can help to flush the radiotracer faster from your body.
However, some concerns about Cardiac PET are as follows:
1) Diabetic patients have low level of insulin which help in transport of glucose across cells. Insulin deficiency may lead to low absorption of FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) which may alter test results. So inform your Doctor before test.
2) Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid certain medications and test for the safety of baby. Ask your Doctor before undergoing Cardiac PET scan.
3) Allergic reactions to radiotracer or contrast agent, although rare but can happen in some individuals. However, these allergic reactions are usually mild.
What is the cost of Cardiac PET scan?
Price of Cardiac/Heart PET scan or Cardiac viability PET scan generally vary with city and location. Various diagnostic and imaging centers charges differently according to the quality of services they provide and the offers currently availing in them. PET scan charges also vary with the body part which need to be examined and the type of PET scan.
Cardiac PET test is an advanced diagnostic and monitoring tool that is available at limited diagnostic centers as it requires costly and modern equipments and skilled Radiologists to perform the scan.
To choose the best diagnostic center for cardiac PET scan or Cardiac viability PET scan in Delhi. Click here!
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) is now offering 50% discount on all types of PET scan test.
You can avail:
Cardiac Viability PET Scan at just
For more details, Click here!
Which is the best diagnostic center for Cardiac PET scan?
A Cardiac or Heart PET scan is now considered as the imaging modality of choice to analyze myocardial viability, cardiac perfusion, regional myocardial blood supply, cardiac metabolism and functional as well as biochemical activity of the myocardium.
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) is the now considered the best diagnostic center for Cardiac PET scan in Rohini, Delhi.
We have the latest GEMINI TF PET/CT system WITH TruFlight technology, India’s first 3rd Generation Time-of-flight PET/CT (64 SLICES CT) scanner in our centers.
We are also having the facility of different types of PET scan including:
2) FDG-PET Scan
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Center is a NABH and NABL accredited top diagnostic center situated in ROHINI and various other locations of Delhi. It is equipped with modern, highly expensive machines with latest cutting edge technologies and highly skilled Radiologists and Pathologists.
Currently, we are offering 50% discount on all types of PET scan.
We are open 24X7 and 365 days. You can also get free online or offline Consultation with our Senior Radiologist, Dr. Ravin Sharma regarding any imaging and scanning test.
We also offer facilities of online reporting, free home sample collection and free Ambulance services in Delhi, NCR.
We are also empanelled with various departments and organizations. So you can get the services at panel rate too.
Hurry! Grab the best deals now!
For more details visit your nearest Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) today or Call us now!
To avail free online consultation with Radiologist. Click here!
