Cardiac PET

Cardiac PET (or cardiac positron emission tomography) is a form of diagnostic imaging in which the presence of heart disease is evaluated using a PET scanner. Intravenous injection of a radiotracer is performed as part of the scan. Commonly used radiotracers are Rubidium-82, Nitrogen-13 ammonia and Oxygen-15 water.[1]

The requirements to perform Cardiac PET imaging include:

• Facility: taking into consideration clinical workflow, as well as regulatory requirements such as requisite shielding from radiation exposure
• Capital equipment: PET or PET/CT scanner
• Radiopharmaceutical: Rubidium-82 generator system or close access to cyclotron produced isotopes such as Nitrogen-13 ammonia
• Personnel: including specially trained physician, radiographers, radiation safety supervisors and optional nursing support
• Operations: stress test monitoring, as well as emergency response equipment, processing and review workstations, administrative and support personnel are additional considerations

This form of diagnostic imaging has traditionally been perceived as cost-prohibitive in comparison to general nuclear medicine cardiac stress testing using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). However, due to significant gains in access to scanners, related to the widely accepted role of PET/CT in clinical oncology, cardiac PET is likely to become more widely available, particularly given various clinical and technical advantages that might make this a potential test of choice in the diagnosis of coronary artery/heart disease.[2]

Cardiac PET imaging has now been expanded to mobile services to facilitate all healthcare providers by a company called Cardiac Imaging, Inc. located in Wheaton, Illinois. They now have the only Medicare approved mobile Cardiac PET scanner available for patient use.