What is nuclear cardiology?
Nuclear cardiology is a method of accessing physiological characteristics of your heart to evaluate heart function and screen for some cardiac disorders. This state-of-the-art diagnostic technique is non-invasive, meaning there are no incisions or equipment entering your body. Nuclear cardiology can assist in the evaluation of acute pain and help determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack. Our Philips CardioMD system, sometimes referred to as a gamma camera, is capable of identifying segments of the heart and blood vessels with decreased or insufficient blood flow. This gives us a better idea of how your heart is functioning, shows the viability of the heart muscle, and allows us to recommend the best course of treatment. Is a nuclear cardiology exam like having an X-Ray? Not quite. X-Ray passes radiation though your body and evaluates the differences in tissue density, thereby producing images. In nuclear cardiology, a tracer is injected into your arm, and the imaging syste
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for more than 500,000 deaths each year. Early diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death for many. Over the past 20 years, advancements in the field of cardiology have made use of nuclear materials to help with the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
