SPECT CT Imaging
What is SPECT?
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is a hybrid imaging technique that combines nuclear medicine with advanced multi-slice CT (Computed Tomography) images to provide an exceptionally detailed 3D visualization of your heart. SPECT can help identify segments of the heart and blood vessels that have decreased or insufficient blood flow. It can also show the viability of the heart muscle and assist in evaluating the cause of acute pain to better determine if you are experiencing a heart attack.
How does it work?
Before the SPECT scan, you are injected with a chemical that emits gamma rays that can be detected by the scanner. The chemical injection allows your doctor to see how your blood flows. The computer collects the information emitted by the gamma rays and merges them with the images from the CT portion of the scan. The result is a clear and detailed 3D image of your heart that can help reveal disease states before structural change occurs.