At McLaren-Macomb, State-of-the-Art Test Determines Heart Muscle Health

A test now available at McLaren-Macomb is helping doctors decide whether high-risk patients with heart disease will benefit from certain kinds of cardiac procedures.

That test is myocardial viability and utilizes a cardiac PET/CT scan that looks for damaged heart muscle. For patients with chronic heart disease and severe heart failure, it can help determine the likelihood of success for procedures that are designed to improve blood flow to the heart.

McLaren-Macomb is the only hospital in Macomb County to offer myocardial viability testing, says Larry Meakem, manager of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Advancing the Decision-Making Process

"We are excited to be able to offer this technology here at McLaren-Macomb," says Christine Dickinson, M.D., medical director of the Nuclear Medicine Department. "It's a very useful tool in identifying the best candidates for some procedures, and possibly avoiding unnecessary risk for others."

Myocardial viability testing combines two sophisticated imaging techniques-positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT)-to give doctors detailed information about heart health. The test helps doctors identify blood flow and viable muscle within areas of the heart. Cardiac PET/CT scans are painless and noninvasive, performed by a doctor on an outpatient basis.

Highly Detailed Information

Patients having the test lie on an exam table while a technologist injects a safe, radioactive substance called a tracer into a vein. The tracer travels through the body to the heart and releases energy. The PET/CT scanner detects this energy and, with the help of a computer, produces extremely detailed pictures of the heart and how it's working.

"Because cardiac PET/CT is such a sensitive test, it enables us to assess high-risk patients with a high degree of accuracy," Meakem says.

Doctors considering cardiac surgery for high-risk patients can refer patients to McLaren-Macomb for myocardial viability testing and receive results within 72 hours. Scans are interpreted by Dr. Dickinson, who has extensive experience in cardiac PET/CT imaging.

To learn more about Myocardial Viability Testing please visit www.McLaren-Macomb.org/heart. To schedule a myocardial viability test, call 586-493-8130.