Southcoast Health Implements Advanced Cardiac Imaging Technology

Southcoast Health recently established a Cardiac PET/CT program, allowing patients to access advanced imaging technology at 208 Mill Road in Fairhaven.

A cardiac PET/CT scan is one of the most accurate noninvasive tests for evaluating blood flow to the heart, making diagnosis of significant heart problems easier for patients. This new program enables cardiac patients who cannot participate in a traditional treadmill heart stress test to receive advanced care without having to travel outside the region.

“Establishing this program further demonstrates how Southcoast Health continues to lead the way in providing expert clinical care in a community health setting. This technology is used at major tertiary centers, and now we have everything we need for diagnostic cardiac imaging and treatment all in one place,” said M. Wajid Baig, MD, Medical Director of Nuclear Cardiology at Southcoast Health.

This advanced imaging is used to evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD), chest pain or suspected angina, previous heart attacks, heart failure, microvascular disease, balanced ischemia and more.

In addition to providing myocardial perfusion imaging to identify blockages, this technology also measures the amount of blood supply in the coronary artery to help diagnose patients who may have heart disease in the smaller blood vessels.

“Adopting this technology is a huge step forward in our diagnostic capabilities. This scan can help us diagnose microvascular disease, a heart condition that is more common in women. With this advanced imaging we can now quickly address smaller blockages that previously may have gone undetected,” said Dra. Carolyn Davidson, a cardiologist at Southcoast Health.

When a patient is referred for this type of test, the Southcoast Health Imaging team partners closely with their care team to make sure that a patient is comfortable, the test is performed safely, and that the images come out as accurately as possible.

“The Southcoast Health Imaging team has been utilizing PET/CT technology for advanced oncology and neurology imaging across the system. Now we are delighted to expand our multidisciplinary approach to support heart and vascular patients across the region. I am proud of the team for their collaboration on this program and commitment to providing exceptional patient care,” said Debra A. Desmarais, Executive Director of Radiology Imaging Services at Southcoast Health.

Compared with a traditional nuclear medicine cardiac exam, PET/CT scans have been shown to use significantly less radiation. This is especially helpful for younger patients and individuals who may require multiple scans in a short time period. Overall, the entire scan takes about 30 minutes, opposed to a traditional stress test that can keep a patient at the hospital for several hours.

To learn more about cardiology services at Southcoast Health please visit Cardiology and Heart Care | Southcoast Heart & Vascular.