Results of a Cardiovascular Disease PET/CT Exam

PET/CT imaging is used to detect coronary artery disease as it measures blood flow to the heart.

PET/CT use a small amount of a radioactive drug, which is normally FDG: a tracer in combination with a compound such as glucose. Once injected the FDG tracer travels through the body.

FDG emits signals as it travels and eventually collects in the organs targeted for examination. In cases where heart muscle is damaged or functioning in an improper fashion because it is ischemic (a condition that indicates lowered blood flow and the lacking of sufficient oxygen to sustain its function), its impaired metabolic action will be shown in the PET/CT scan images.

PET/CT scans can produce two images of the heart to determine if the arteries are in a state of stress. An initial PET/CT scan is taken while the patient is at rest and a second scan produces images of blood flow in the body while the body is in a period of stress.

The two images produced by the two stages of PET/CT imaging are compared to examine blood flow through the heart muscle. Yellow, orange, and red images on the scans indicate good blood flow. However, blue, purple, and green indicate poor flow. Due to its comprehensive and accurate approach, PET/CT imaging is used to reveal coronary artery disease by detecting impaired blood flow and it is also used to rule out the presence of coronary artery disease in suspected cases.

Besides detection, PET/CT is highly effective in the treatment of heart disease when it is used during the staging phase. Staging commences following heart disease diagnosis and is used to determine the level of heart disease.

The staging component of heart disease is critical as it provides the necessary information for physicians in determining an appropriate medical course of heart disease treatment. It is also a valuable procedure that is used to determine whether bypass surgery or transplant is an appropriate medical action following diagnosis.