Cardiac PET CT scan: Purpose and Cost in Delhi

Cardiac PET CT is a diagnostic tool using both the procedure i.e., PET and CT for the detection of abnormalities in the heart. Cardiac PET CT is also known as heart PET CT and evaluates different conditions like tumors, blood flow abnormalities, structural abnormalities. PET is used to get the diagnosis at the cellular level using radioactive tracer while as CT scan give the anatomical images to look for any structural changes or tumors in the heart.  Cardiac cancer is treatable if identified at the early stages and also helps to limit the spread of the cardiac cancer. PET CT is one of the most advanced radiological tools for the detection of abnormalities and also helps to design a treatment as per the severity of the condition. In cardiac PET CT scan diagnostic procedure 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is used as radioactive tracer for the detection of abnormalities. 

Heart Cancer

Cardiac cancer or heart cancer is the condition when the cells of heart divide in uncontrolled manner leading to the formation of tumors. The cancer condition of heart is also called as Angiosarcoma. Heart cancers are very rare and also the exact cause of the heart cancer is not known. But researchers believe that exposure to certain chemicals, radiations or mutation in the cardiac cells can lead to the condition of heart cancer. There are various symptoms of the cancer like abnormal heart rhythm, chest pain, fainting, pericardial effusion etc. are some the main symptoms of heart cancer. This cancer can be fetal if the condition is not identified and treated in time. Early detection is important for the treatment and stop the spread to other parts of the body. PET CT is effective diagnostic tool for the detection of heart cancers at the early stages. This procedure also helps to check the progression of the cancer and help to design a treatment which can be more effective and less damaging to the surrounding healthy cells.

 When is cardiac PET CT performed?

A healthcare expert can suggest the cardiac PET CT to the patient after knowing the symptoms and cardiac history of the patient. Usually healthcare expert will suggest in PET CT scan in following conditions.

• If the patient is suffering from coronary artery disease
• If the patient had diseases heart muscles
• Patient suffering from heart infection
• Patient suffering from cardiac sarcoidosis
• To look for the damage of heart after the heart attack
• To look for the effectiveness of cardiac treatment
• To look for the condition of heart before going for any procedure

What are the causes of Cardiac Cancer?

Research suggested that there is no single known cause of cardiac cancer; several risk factors have been closely linked to its development. There are several factors which are linked for the cause of cardiac cancer and these include:

• Exposure to some radiations
• Exposure to toxins or chemicals
• Family history
• Genetic mutations
• Males are more prone for the condition
• Smoking 
• AIDS

There is limited data for the cardiac cancer because the condition is very rare.  But knowing the factors that can lead to cardiac cancer can help to remain alert about these causing factors.

Which type of cardiac cancers can be detected by PET CT scan?

There are various types of cardiac cancers which can be detected by the PET CT scan. This diagnostic tool can also detect non cancerous tumors, different types of cardiac conditions detected by PET CT scan are:

• Angiosarcoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• Lymphoma
• Myxoma
• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Lipoma
• Hemangioma
• Teratoma
• Fibroma
• Hamartoma

What is Cardiac PET CT scan used to show?

PET CT scan can show different types of cardiac cancers, its spread, status and also helps to design a treatment for a particular type of cancer. Cardiac PET can show various conditions like:

• Stage of cardiac cancer
• Spread of cardiac cancer
• Primary source of cardiac cancer
• Detection of recurrence
• Monitoring treatment responses
• Cellular changes in the cardiac cells.
• Any abnormal activity of the cardiac cells.
• Reveal the functioning of the cardiac cells. 
• Helps to look for the blood circulation conditions in the heart.
• To look for any blood clots in the vessels of heart

How to Prepare for Cardiac PET-CT Scan?

Cardiac PET CT is a complex medical procedure which needs consultation of radiologist. Before going for the scan patient is advised to disclose all medical history, symptoms, and allergies towards any medication etc to the radiologist.  PET CT uses radioactive tracer like 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) for the detection of the abnormalities. Any allergies to the medications or interaction of radioactive tracer with any medication can affect the result of the scan. It is usually advised to stop all medications before going for the scan. It is important to discuss with the doctor, he / she can guide the patient according to the situation and need. Radioactive tracer is give on the scan day and patient is advised to wait for 1 hour. After then patient is taken in the scanning ward and allowed to lie on the table attached with the scanner. The table slides into the scanner and take the pictures of the area. The scanning usually takes around 30-60 minutes for actual scanning in the machine and the whole procedure can take around 1 to 2 hours.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PET-CT has emerged as a powerful diagnostic tool in the fight against cardiac cancer. By using radioactive tracers like 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), it enables early and accurate detection of malignant activity within the cardiac tissue and surrounding areas. PET-CT not only helps in identifying the presence of cancer but also plays a crucial role in determining its stage, assessing how far it has spread (metastasis), and evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing treatment in cardiac cancer. There are various symptoms of cardiac cancer like abnormal heart rhythm, chest pain, fainting, pericardial effusion etc. are some the main symptoms of heart cancer. PET CT is an effective diagnostic tool for the detection of cardiac cancers. This procedure can detect various conditions of the heart like stage of cancer, spread of cancer, presence of any blood clots, blood vessels, effect of treatment etc.  PET CT has significantly improved the diagnostic technique, which helps in cancer treatment at the early stages.