Covenant HealthCare is the first health system in the region to offer Cardiac PET/CT, expanding access to advanced heart imaging at the Covenant HealthCare Advanced Imaging Center at its Mackinaw Campus in Saginaw.
Stacey Roth, RT(N), CNMT, Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist
at Covenant HealthCare, stands next to new
Cardiac PET/CT machine. (Photo by: Covenant HealthCare)
Cardiac PET/CT combines positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) to give physicians detailed information about the heart. PET imaging shows how blood flows to the heart muscle, while CT provides detailed images that help physicians interpret the results. Together, the images can provide a more complete picture of a patient's heart health.
The test can help evaluate patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, including concerns about reduced blood flow to the heart. It may also provide helpful information for certain patients when other cardiac testing has not provided clear answers.
“The more clearly we can understand blood flow to the heart, the better informed we are when determining the next steps for an individual patient,” said Dr. Mahir Sati, Cardiologist and Medical Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology. “Cardiac PET/CT gives us another advanced diagnostic option, particularly when we need additional information beyond what traditional cardiac testing may provide. Most importantly, it gives us another way to tailor testing and care to the individual patient.”
Advanced Imaging in Less Time
Covenant Cardiology also offers cardiac SPECT imaging, commonly known as a nuclear stress test, at the Covenant Center for the Heart. Both tests can help physicians evaluate blood flow to the heart. However, Cardiac PET/CT may be especially beneficial for certain patients, including those with known or suspected coronary artery disease, concerns involving the heart’s smaller blood vessels, previous cardiac procedures, or cardiac testing that has not provided clear answers. It may also provide clearer imaging for some patients who can be more challenging to image with traditional testing.
For patients who meet the appropriate criteria, Cardiac PET/CT also offers a shorter testing experience. A Cardiac PET/CT can typically be completed in approximately 40 to 60 minutes, compared with the two to four hours often needed for a traditional nuclear stress test. For some patients who previously may have required imaging over two days, testing may now be completed in a single visit.
Cardiac PET/CT can also provide clearer, more detailed images for certain patients, helping physicians identify areas of reduced blood flow and providing greater confidence as they evaluate a patient's heart health.
Expanding Access to Extraordinary Cardiac Care
As the first health system in the region to introduce Cardiac PET/CT technology, Covenant is expanding access to advanced cardiac imaging for patients throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond.
The service brings together expertise from Covenant HealthCare Imaging and Diagnostics and Cardiology teams to provide coordinated cardiac testing and interpretation.
A cardiologist or other provider can determine whether the test is appropriate based on a patient's individual needs. Patients interested in learning more about Cardiac PET/CT and whether it may be appropriate for them should talk with their cardiologist or primary care provider.