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The HeartFirst clinic in Plano, TX is now offering a new Cardiac exam called: Cardiac positron emission tomography ( PET ). This procedure has been the gold standard in stress testing and until recently, not available in the cardiology offices. Previously, a cyclotron was needed to provide the isotope, known as rubidium-82. Generators that produce rubidium-82 are now delivered to the cardiologist office and will supply rubidium-82 for one month.

Cardiac PET has the highest sensitivity and specificity of any stress test. This means a cardiac PET will rarely miss anyone with flow limiting blockages, which is the plaque that needs immediate attention. In addition, normal patients will be correctly identified with normal PET scans.

“It is exciting to bring the latest in nuclear cardiology to the Dallas Metroplex says HeartFirst Cardiologist,” Dr. James S. Rellas. “Many patients needing stress testing, especially if overweight, cannot walk on a treadmill or who have had equivocal stress echo or nuclear stress testing in the past, can usually be pre-certified for a cardiac PET with their insurance company.”

Source: HeartFirst clinic