Nuclear Medicine for Diagnosing Heart Disease

Among the many diagnostic tools physicians use for finding and evaluating heart disease in patients, "nuclear medicine" may sound intimidating.

"In actuality, this form of imaging uses very low levels of radiation and allows physicians to see how organs function, rather than just their structure," says Dr. Warren Moore, chief of nuclear medicine at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. "For example, an X-ray can show where a bone is broken. A bone scan using nuclear imaging can show whether or not that broken bone is healing properly."

When applied to the cardiovascular field, nuclear imaging is most commonly being used in connection with some type of stress test. A small amount of a low-level radioactive solution is injected into the patient toward the end of an exercise interval, or after the heart has been stimulated by medicines that simulate the effects of exercise. A special camera that can detect the radioactive material within the body is then used to create images of the heart that are displayed on a monitor. Images are also obtained at rest in most cases, and the physician can then compare the function of the heart during activity and at rest.

"Not only is nuclear imaging used to determine whether or not a patient has coronary artery disease, but also the effect of that condition on the heart," says Dr. Moore. "We can even take the evaluation a step further and consider how this effect impacts the patient's prognosis."

Nuclear imaging is not appropriate, however, for all patients.

"The traditional treadmill stress test works well for people with less complicated medical conditions," says Dr. Moore. "Patients with advanced or multiple cardiovascular problems will benefit the most from this test."

- MAUREEN KOVACIK

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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