A PET scan is a non-invasive nuclear test used to help diagnose multiple health problems, including heart conditions. The test is capable of recreating images of your heart by using radioactive tracers. For people with heart problems, PET scans are used to determine the damage caused by a heart attack, as well as discover if someone is suffering from coronary artery disease.
Things to know before a PET scan
A cardiac PET scan is a very efficient means to diagnose coronary artery disease and subsequent problems, such as heart attacks. With the help of a PET scan, doctors can determine if your heart has any dead muscles or tissues, and decide on the best treatment in your situation.
It can also track the spots where your coronary arteries are narrowed, but also see if there are any blood clots that prevent blood from flowing through an artery at all. Whenever blood clots are formed, the part of your heart that’s connected to the blocked coronary artery is deprived of oxygen, which causes said muscles to slowly die.
There are certain things that you and your doctor should discuss before having a PET scan, such as:
- Let your doctor know if you are pregnant because this nuclear test can be harmful to the baby.
- Inform your doctor about every medication you’re currently taking, whether it’s prescribed pills or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbs. Doctors may advise you to stop taking them before the test. Only interrupt your medication treatment if your doctor tells you to.
- Doctors may inform you to avoid specific foods and drinks before the test. Caffeine or alcohol are examples, mostly because they can put you in an agitated state for a test that requires you to lie perfectly still for better result accuracy.
- It is recommended that you avoid any food six hours before the test, but you are allowed to drink water.
- Also, make sure that you dress comfortably, and that you avoid wearing jewelry or having any metal objects with you. You will be required to take them off before the test.
What to expect during the PET scan
The disks have wires connected to them, which lead to an EKG machine. This will help record the heart’s electrical impulses, looking for unusual patterns that could indicate a heart problem. But, more complex than an EKG, the machine is also connected to a computer. When the machine registers your heart beats, it signals the computer when it’s time to take a scan. Aside from the electrodes attached to your skin, you will also be connected to an IV line. The tracer is injected through this line, into your bloodstream.
The patient lies flat on the table throughout the entire test. Much like in the case of a CT scan, the table slides into a tube, which is called a scanner and is shaped like a giant doughnut.
During the test, the scanner will pick up radioactive patterns induced by the tracer, sending the images further to the computer screen. The test requires taking several scans, each of them showing a thin slice of the heart from different angles. At this point, it’s really important not to move, because movements can alter the scan, resulting in unclear or deformed images.
Doctors typically require taking pictures of your heart before the tracer injection, which could take an additional 15 to 30 minutes. The heart is scanned once more after the tracer injection.
In some cases, patients are also required to take a nuclear chemical stress test, which requires taking medicine to increase the heart’s blood flow. The purpose of this medication is to stress the heart as it normally does when you’re performing an exercise.
Part of the test is to see how your heart takes the traces before and after being administered medication such as adenosine or dobutamine. People that suffer from coronary artery disease will have their blood flow restricted, which is underlined by the tracer not traveling to specific areas. This helps doctors identify the exact blockage site.
Always clear your schedule if you’re about to have a PET scan because this test can take anywhere between one to three hours.
After the PET scan
Conclusion
A PET scan is a nuclear imaging test, which is basically a combination between an EKG and a CT scan. It implies taking digital images of your heart with the help of an IV-injected substance which is called a tracer. With a PET scan, doctors can assess if a heart attack has caused damage to the heart’s muscle, to see what the exact sites of coronary artery damage and blockages are, but also to determine what is the best treatment plan for someone who has coronary artery disease.
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