pet scans

[zk]

Is pet scan test better than thalium or muga test in diagnosing old mild heart attacks?Is the same iv injection contrast used in all pet scans if not which is the safest?Can pet scan be done (to rule out old mild heart attacks)without a contrast that intentionally increases heart rate without physical exertion?Does pet scan measure ejection fraction if it does is it as accurate as echo or better?Is pet scan better in diagnosing coronary artery disease than thalium and stress echo?Thank you

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

ZK,

Thanks for the post.

PET scans have better resolution (they make prettier picures) than do traditional SPECT scans.  In that sense, a physician interpreter would have an easier time detecting a small area of myocardial scar from a PET scan than from a SPECT scan.

Contrast is not injected with PET scans, radioisotopes are.  They are all safe.

To detect scar, an agent that raises heart rate is not needed.  These agents are needed to detect areas of the heart that are still alive but not getting enough blood.

Echo is clearly better in most persons for measuring EF.

PET scans are probably more accurate for detecting coronary artery disease than either Thallium or stress echos, but head to head to head comparisons have not been done.

Hope that helps.