A cardiac PET scan is a vital diagnostic tool that can detect or monitor heart conditions like coronary artery disease. At Cardiac PET Partners in Encino, California, imaging specialist Gabe Vorobiof, MD, uses cardiac PET scans to evaluate patients. To find out more about what to expect from the scans and their results, call the practice or book an appointment online today.
A cardiac PET scan is an advanced imaging test that captures pictures of your heart. This test uses a substance called a tracer to show blood flow in your heart, which helps your provider detect any blockages that may be depriving your heart of the oxygen it needs to function.
PET scans are different from other imaging tests because they’re particularly effective at showing how well a particular organ, like your heart, is functioning.
A PET scan indicates how much blood is flowing to each area of your heart, and it can also detect issues like scar tissue in the heart or abnormal buildups of cholesterol and other substances.
Your provider or specialist can use the results of your cardiac PET scan from Cardiac PET Partners to make a diagnosis, determine or change your treatment, or track a heart condition as it progresses.
Cardiac PET Partners performs PET scans regularly to diagnose or monitor conditions affecting your heart. Your specialist might refer you to Cardiac PET Partners for a cardiac PET scan if you have symptoms or a history of:
Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes your arteries to get narrower, which restricts blood flow into the heart. Typically, the underlying cause is deposits of material called plaque along the inner walls of your blood vessels.
Heart failure describes when your heart struggles to pump blood as it’s supposed to. Your heart weakens or stiffens over time, which can be life-threatening.
When you visit Cardiac PET Partners for a PET scan of your heart, your provider asks a few questions about your personal medical history and the medications you take. After that, they guide you to a special scanning table just for PET scans.
Your provider administers medications through an intravenous (IV) line and places padded electrodes over your heart to track its activity. Through the IV line, they also administer the tracer into your blood. The PET scanner can then capture detailed images as the tracer shows your blood flow.
Your results from a cardiac PET scan are ready in a few days. Once they’re available, your primary care physician or heart specialist interprets them for you.
Find out more about cardiac PET scans and whether you can benefit from them by scheduling an appointment at Cardiac PET Partners. Call the office or book an appointment online today.