Did you know that people are exposed to radiation sources on a daily basis? Natural radiation sources such as naturally occurring radioactive materials found in soil, water and air can have an impact on health. On the other hand, man-made radiation exists as well, with medical devices, including X-ray machines, as the largest source of man-made radiation. 

Internal Exposure

The internal exposure of radiation particles occurs when a radionuclide is ingested, inhaled or enters the bloodstream in some way. This exposure stops when the radionuclide is expelled from the body via treatment or naturally. During our cardiac PET scans, there is no internal exposure to radiation. 

External Exposure

External exposure is another means of incurring radionuclides, and this is especially the case in certain medical procedures. X-rays are considered a planned exposure, as radiation is utilized for the diagnosis of patients. Keep in mind that the medical use of radiation accounts for roughly 98 percent of the population dose contribution from all artificial sources. Over 3600 million diagnostic radiology exams are performed on an annual basis. 

What Are the Long-Term Impacts?

With exposure to radiation comes long-term risks. Depending on the dosage of radiation, potential side effects include tissue or organ damage, hair loss, skin redness, radiation burns and acute radiation syndrome. Long-term exposure that lasts years or even decades can result in the development of certain types of cancer. 

Thanks to the implementation of ALARA, all of our cardiac PET scans are designed to minimize exposure to patients to help them reduce the side effects of the scan. We also double the distance between the patient’s body and the machine to help reduce exposure. Rest assured that our team at Cardiac Imaging, Inc. has put together a thoughtful, meaningful protocol to keep exposure as low as possible. 

Those who undergo cardiac PET imaging may be worried about the level of radiation exposure that will take place during their imaging test. Rest assured that there is an ALARA principle in place for minimizing radiation exposure, which stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable, to help limit the dosages of radiation exposure. This is a best practice in addition to being predicated on legal doses that are in place for all radiation safety programs. 

Why Does This Practice Exist?

Concerns revolving around radiation safety have existed for quite some time, as there’s an assumption that every radiation dose, regardless of its magnitude, can produce some level of harmful effects. For example, radiation exposure may result in an increased risk of genetic mutations or cancer. Because of ALARA, practical and cost-effective measures can help provide patients with peace of mind that everything possible is being done to keep them safe and healthy. 

The Implementation of ALARA

As providers of cardiac PET imaging, our staff is committed to providing an effective ALARA program for all of our patients. We implement the following safety principles to help make ALARA as effective as possible. 

• We aim to minimize the time spent exposed to radiation
• We double the distance between the patient’s body and the source of radiation to ultimately reduce exposure by a factor of 4. 
• We utilize absorber materials to reduce the exposure of beta particles and gamma rays. 

We’re here to help make your process as safe as possible from the beginning to the end! Feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns that you have.

Cardiac imaging has become more and more advanced in recent years. Mobile PET imaging and MRI scans can give cardiologists and medical professionals greater insight into how to treat particular heart conditions. These imaging machines can also detect potential concerns early on and help you determine a quick course of action. 

Detect Potential Issues or Concerns

When concerns arise about a patient’s heart health, getting a cardiac imaging test may address unhealthy regions. Our mobile PET imaging machine uses a radioactive tracer injection to help the PET scanner produce a series of clear images of the heart and its vessels. It can show healthy or damaged muscles, arteries, and veins, which can help you assess and understand any issues. Noticing a potential area of disease or damage in the heart early on with cardiac imaging could help you save your patient’s life. 

Diagnose Diseases and Pinpoint Damage

Similar to imaging done on other areas of the body, cardiac imaging can be utilized to diagnose and spot areas of disease. A common cardiac imaging process is our mobile PET imaging technology. PET scanners can give doctors a detailed image of the heart and help to pinpoint areas of damage. If a patient has undergone a heart attack, our mobile PET scan can distinguish the areas that were affected during the episode. 
 
We can help you make PET imaging more comfortable and efficient for your patients. Make sure everyone’s hearts are pumping at their best ability and contact Cardiac Imaging, Inc. today for more information.

During cardiac PET scans, radiotracers are used to detect tumors or regions of inflammation. Radiotracers are molecules that are linked to a small amount of radioactive material that can be detected on the PET scan for cardiology. 

PET Radiotracers & Cardiac Imaging, Inc.

PET radiotracers must have a high specificity to a molecular target and should have low non-specific uptake in other tissues. Cardiac Imaging, Inc. uses a radiotracer called Rb-82, or Rubidium-82. The use of Rb-82 in PET imaging produces higher diagnostic accuracy, lower radiation exposure, and quicker exam times compared to the use of Tc-99m in SPECT imaging.

How It Works

A radiotracer is injected, swallowed, or inhaled and then eventually accumulates in the area of the body under examination. A special camera or imaging device is used during this process and will detect the radioactive emissions from the radiotracer. If an abnormal cell is active, it can absorb glucose at a higher rate and therefore be seen on PET scans, allowing your doctor to identify any diseases before it may be seen on other imaging tests.  

Benefits of Nuclear Medicine

Radiotracers are a part of nuclear medicine that have been used in PET cardiac scans for years. Some of the benefits of radiotracers are seen in the common uses of nuclear medicine, including:

• Evaluating treatment options such as bypass heart surgery and angioplasty
• Assessing the damage to the heart after a heart attack
• Visualizing heart blood flow and function

You’re In Safe Hands with Cardiac Imaging, Inc.

A PET scan in cardiology will help evaluate the heart health by measuring the blood flow brought by the coronary arteries to the heart muscle with the help of radiotracers. If you want to learn more today, contact us at (800) 998-2035 and we will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

With the advanced medical technology available to us today, there are many possible methods to take images of our bodies. Two of the most effective cardiac scans—cardiac PET imaging and SPECT scans—use very similar processes to analyze the internal functions of our bodies. It is easy to get them confused, so here are some of the differences between cardiac PET scans and cardiac SPECT scans.

PET Scans Can Provide More Detail

Although both PET and SPECT scans use radioactive substances in order to show how your organs are functioning, PET scans allow for even more detail. With cardiac PET imaging, doctors can analyze and quantify your heart’s blood flow, which is crucial when looking for signs of heart disease.

PET and SPECT Scans Use Different Radiotracers

PET and SPECT scans use radiopharmaceuticals to create 3D images, but the tracers used are differently. SPECT scans measure gamma rays, and the radiotracers used with PET scans produce small particles called positrons. The detectors in the PET scanner measure these photos to create images of internal organs.

PET Scan Images are Clearer

PET scan images are generally reported to offer a higher resolution of 5 to 7 mm, compared with a cardiac SPECT scan resolution of 12 to 15 mm. With a higher resolution, radiologists can detect changes to the heart’s blood flow at a granular level.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of PET scans, contact Cardiac Imaging, Inc. today at (800) 998-2035 and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

The acronym “PET” is short for Positron Emission Tomography and this scan refers to the specialized technology that allows your doctor to determine how well your organs, specifically your heart, are functioning. A PET scan uses radioactive tracers to record information on the chemical activity within your body. Doctors use PET scans in cardiology to diagnose certain heart diseases. Read on to see more helpful information about PET scans and heart disease.

How Do PET Scans Work?

PET scans use radioactive tracers to monitor blood flow, oxygen use, sugar use and more. The tracers can be consumed in one of three ways: injected into the skin, swallowed in a drink or inhaled as a gas. Tracers take over an hour to absorb in the body and collect in the areas of more chemical activity. The scan takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes and the scanned picture will ultimately show bright areas where the tracers are collected.

Scanning for Heart Disease

Doctors can use PET scans to diagnose heart disease, as the tracers will collect more in healthy heart tissue and less in unhealthy areas. The varying degrees of colors and brightness indicate how your heart tissue is functioning. The PET scan for cardiology allows the doctor to see decreased areas of blood flow, usually indicating a heart disease red flag. Doctors use this scan to determine which steps or surgeries need to be done to repair clogged arteries. Additionally, a PET scan is used to assess the organs after a heart attack.

Thanks to PET scans, your doctor will be able to reveal which organs are not functioning how they should be and is used to diagnose serious heart diseases. If you’re interested in learning more about the uses of a PET scan in cardiology, contact Cardiac Imaging, Inc. today.

A cardiac PET scan is one of the most effective forms of medical imaging because it not only provides images of your heart, but it also shows the specifics of how your heart is functioning. Patients receive PET scans because this advanced technology can help test for certain diseases, see how well different treatments are working, and assist in preparing for an upcoming surgery. 

What Technology Is Used In A PET Scan?

A cardiac PET scan is able to effectively show how your heart is functioning by using a radioactive tracer. This tracer is essentially glucose with a small radioactive component attached and may be injected, swallowed, or inhaled, depending on the area of focus in the body. The tracer’s radioactive technology is not harmful to you, but you should let your doctor know if you are diabetic, breastfeeding, or may be pregnant.

The PET scanner itself is a large ring-shaped machine that takes images of your body and picks up the radioactive waves of the tracer. In these images, different colors and degrees of brightness will show where in your body the tracer goes, indicating areas that may need to be examined closely for disease.

Why Is It So Effective?

With this technology, doctors can use the images to check blood flow to your heart muscles, decide treatment for clogged arteries, and analyze the effects of a heart attack. Cardiac PET scans are so effective because the technology can show problems at the cellular level, which gives your doctor the best view of complex diseases, such as heart disease. 

Cardiac PET scans are an effective option because the results are typically ready for your doctor to analyze within two business days, giving plenty of time for a course of action. To learn more about PET scans, contact Cardiac Imaging, Inc.