Cardiac Imaging | Baylor Scott & White Health

Detect and monitor heart disease with cardiac imaging

Cardiac imaging captures images of your heart. Your provider may order cardiac imaging to evaluate your risk for cardiovascular conditions, investigate the cause of your symptoms or confirm a diagnosis. You may also need cardiac imaging to determine if a medication or other heart disease treatment is working properly.

When is cardiac imaging performed?

Your cardiologist can use cardiac imaging to detect many heart and vascular conditions. A few of them include:

Aortic aneurysm
Atherosclerosis
Atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias
Congenital heart disease
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve disease

Cardiac computed tomography (CT)

A cardiac CT scan of the heart takes multiple X-ray images to create a detailed, 3D picture of your heart muscle and blood vessels. In some cases, your doctor may use a contrast dye to get a better view of your blood vessels.

Contrast dyes often contain iodine, which can cause a reaction in people with an iodine allergy. Let your imaging team know beforehand if you know you have an iodine allergy. If you do, they can use steroids and antihistamines to prevent an allergic reaction.

Cardiac CT scans can show:

Blockages in your arteries, which may contribute to aneurysms and heart attacks
Calcium deposits in your arteries, which is used to determine your calcium score, a test that can help determine your risk for heart attack or other heart events
How well blood flows through the heart, which helps determine if you have heart valve issues
How well your heart pumps blood, which can help your doctor understand your risk for heart failure

What to expect during cardiac CT

Cardiac CT scanners are large, doughnut-shaped devices. You lie on a padded table that slides through the scanner’s opening, and the machine takes X-ray images of your heart.
You will need to lie very still, and the radiologic technologist may ask you to hold your breath to minimize body movement while the images are taken. The technologist will monitor you during the entire exam through a window and communicate with you through an intercom if you need help or feel uncomfortable.
The length of the exams can vary but plan on the test-taking up to an hour. Tests that involve dyes may take longer.
After the test, a radiologist will read your images and send a report to your physician, who will discuss the results with you and plan the next steps.

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scans

Sometimes called nuclear imaging, cardiac PET scans combine imaging with a special radioactive substance that helps doctors more easily identify heart problems, such as:

Damage a heart attack may have caused
Issues with how blood flows through your heart, which can help them diagnose coronary artery disease
Whether you would benefit from a specific treatment, such as angioplasty and stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting

Cardiac PET scans may also be used during a type of heart stress test called a pharmacologic stress test. This test helps doctors understand how well your heart works while it’s under stress. Before the test begins, you receive medication that makes your heart beat faster. Images of your heart are then taken with a PET scanner.

Before a heart PET scan, you receive a small amount of radioactive tracer called a radionuclide. The PET scanner detects the tracer and creates detailed 3D images.

The radioactive tracer poses very little risk to most people. Your body eliminates it through urine and bowel movements. However, women who are pregnant, nursing or who think they may be pregnant should not receive cardiac PET scans.

What to expect during a cardiac PET scan

The tests begin with you having an IV placed in a vein in your arm so you can receive the radioactive tracers. You’ll also have a blood pressure cuff placed on one arm and electrodes placed on your chest so your imaging team can monitor your blood pressure and take an electrocardiogram during the test. If you’re having a pharmacologic stress test, you will also receive medication to dilate your arteries.

When ready for imaging, you will be asked to lie on an exam table with your arms above your head. The PET scanner will take images from different angles. Plan for the test to last at least 90 minutes.

After the test, the imaging team will read your images and send a report to your physician, who will discuss the results with you and plan the next steps.

Additional types of cardiac imaging

In addition to cardiac CT and PET scans, your provider may use the following imaging tests:

Cardiac angiography, an interventional cardiology procedure in which a small tube is inserted into a vein and guided to your heart, where X-ray images and dyes are used to identify blockages
Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to produce images of your heart muscle’s size and shape
X-rays, which show the size, location and shape of your heart and blood vessels

Your provider may recommend one or multiple tests, based on your symptoms and the information they hope to learn from your images.

Preparing for cardiac imaging

Each cardiac imaging test is slightly different. Before your appointment, you will receive instructions specific to the test you are having about how to prepare, what to expect and how to receive your results. These instructions will be specific to the test you are having done.

Not all imaging exams require special preparation, but in general, you can use these tips to prepare for your exam:

Bring your medications or a list of medicines you take if your care team has asked you to.
Follow the instructions you receive about eating, drinking and taking medications before your exam.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Short sleeves are a good option if your test requires an IV or involves blood pressure cuffs. Avoid boots, jumpsuits, overalls and dresses.

Find a cardiac imaging location near you

Cardiac imaging is available at many Baylor Scott & White locations. No matter where you go, you will have access to advanced imaging technologies and experienced technologists and radiologists dedicated to helping you get accurate results.

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene

1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene

1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602

Detect and monitor heart disease with cardiac imaging

When is cardiac imaging performed?

Cardiac computed tomography (CT)

What to expect during cardiac CT

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scans

What to expect during a cardiac PET scan

Additional types of cardiac imaging

Preparing for cardiac imaging

Find a cardiac imaging location near you

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