PET Technology for Diagnosing Blood Clots

Recent studies have shown that PET/CT imaging makes relevant headway in diagnosing dangerous blood clots. With the risk of clots travelling to vital parts of the body and restricting blood flow, it is important physicians have access to the most up-to-date nuclear technology to prevent emergencies.

In cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), if a clot travels to the heart or lungs, it can cause a heart attack or pulmonary embolism, no matter where the clot may have originated. Additionally, since clots often result when plaque in the arteries ruptures, diagnosing plaque build-up is paramount to treating patients.

A CT scan is a reliable way to detect blood clots in the body. However, PET scans in San Diego from Cardiac Imaging, Inc. can also provide thorough diagnostics. Due to the radioactive tracers used in PET and CT scans, a study was conducted specifically with the 18F-GP1 tracer to distinguish how reliable these scans could become.

It was found that PET and CT scans conducted with this tracer not only allowed physicians to locate blood clots- and with a high image quality -it also allowed them to recognize and track newly formed thrombi, and determine whether they posed a high risk of embolization.

The specific use of the 18F-GP1 tracer in PET and CT shows promise for more accurate diagnosing of VTE. In the study, the 18F-GP1 tracer also showed an increased uptake in the distal veins in twelve patients’ legs that went undetected in conventional imaging.

Mobile & Fixed Site PET Diagnostic Imaging from Cardiac Imaging, Inc.

Cardiac Imaging, Inc. provides physicians with mobile and fixed site imaging technology to treat their patients safely and effectively. To bring your patients the best in today’s nuclear medicine, from PET myocardial perfusion scans to quantification of blood flow studies, contact us at Cardiac Imaging, Inc. and learn more about our imaging options.