What is Cardiac Stress Testing?

Stress testing helps us evaluate how well your heart functions under stress. It’s used to detect blockages, determine the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and assess your overall heart health. There are several types of stress testing, but not all are created equal:

1. Stress Echo: Combines ultrasound imaging with exercise or medication-induced stress.

2. SPECT: Uses a radioactive tracer to create 3D images of blood flow to the heart.

3. PET/CT: A cutting-edge test that combines PET imaging with CT technology to provide unmatched accuracy and detail.

Why Choose Cardiac PET/CT Stress Testing?

Cardiac PET/CT takes heart diagnostics to the next level, offering significant advantages over traditional tests.

1. Superior Accuracy

• Stress Echo Limitations: While widely available, stress echo relies on ultrasound images, which can be less reliable in patients with larger body sizes, scarring from previous heart surgeries, or poor acoustic windows. This can lead to inconclusive results.

• SPECT Limitations: SPECT imaging often has lower resolution, making it harder to detect small blockages. Artifacts can also cause false positives or negatives.

• PET/CT Advantage: PET/CT provides high-resolution, 3D images that allow us to detect even subtle abnormalities in blood flow. This level of precision ensures we don’t miss critical details about your heart health.

2. Combined Power of PET and CT

The addition of CT imaging in PET/CT stress testing provides even greater anatomical detail, allowing us to not only assess blood flow but also visualize your coronary arteries. This is especially valuable in detecting both structural and functional problems in a single test.

3. Lower Radiation Exposure

Compared to SPECT, cardiac PET/CT uses a much lower dose of radiation, making it a safer option, especially for patients who may require repeat imaging studies.

4. Fast and Comfortable Experience

• Stress Echo: May require prolonged imaging sessions and effort from patients.

• SPECT: Can take several hours, requiring extended time in the clinic.

• PET/CT Advantage: With PET/CT, the entire test is completed in about 30-60 minutes, making it a quicker, more comfortable experience.

5. Ideal for Complex Cases

Patients with conditions like diabetes, obesity, or multi-vessel coronary artery disease benefit significantly from PET/CT’s precise measurement of blood flow (known as quantitative myocardial perfusion). This ensures we understand exactly how well your heart is functioning and can tailor your treatment plan accordingly.

6. Early Detection of Heart Disease

Cardiac PET/CT goes beyond diagnosing severe blockages—it also identifies early-stage coronary artery disease. By detecting issues before symptoms arise, we can intervene early, potentially preventing a heart attack or other serious complications.

Who Should Consider Cardiac PET/CT?

Cardiac PET/CT stress testing is ideal for patients who:

• Have had inconclusive results from stress echo or SPECT.

• Have risk factors like diabetes, obesity, or a family history of heart disease.

• Want the most accurate and reliable testing available.

• Need a test that’s quick, comfortable, and minimizes radiation exposure.