Heart PET CT scan: Purpose and Cost in Delhi

Heart PET CT is a diagnostic tool using both the procedure i.e., PET and CT for the detection of abnormalities in the heart. Heart 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.  Heart cancer is treatable if identified at the early stages and also helps to limit the spread of the heart 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 heart PET CT scan diagnostic procedure 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is used as radioactive tracer for metabolic imaging where as 13N-ammonia and 82 Rb is used to assess the myocardial perfusion.

Heart Cancer

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 heart cells can lead to the condition of heart cancer. Early detection is important for the treatment and stops 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.

What are the symptoms of Heart Cancer?

Heart cancer is very rare and can be fatal if not treated at time. There are various symptoms which can be related to the heart cancer and these include:

• Abnormal heart beat (Arrhythmia)
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pericardial effusion

 When is heart PET CT performed?

A healthcare expert can suggest the heart PET CT to the patient after knowing the symptoms and heart 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 heart sarcoidosis
• To look for the damage of heart after the heart attack
• To look for the effectiveness of heart treatment
• To look for the condition of heart before going for any procedure

What are the causes of Heart Cancer?

Research suggested that there is no single known cause of heart cancer; several risk factors have been closely linked to its development. There are several factors which are linked for the cause of heart 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 heart cancer because the condition is very rare.  But knowing the factors that can lead to heart cancer can help to remain alert about these causing factors.

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

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

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

Conclusion

In conclusion, PET-CT has emerged as a powerful diagnostic tool in detection of heart cancer. Different types of radioactive tracers are used for heart PET CT depending on the condition going to be detected.  18F-FDG tracer is used for metabolic imaging where as 13N-ammonia and 82 Rb is used to assess the myocardial perfusion. 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 heart cancer. There are various symptoms of heart cancer like abnormal heart rhythm, chest pain, fainting, pericardial effusion etc.