Heart disease is the number-one killer of men and women in the United States, making early detection critical for timely and proper cardiac treatment.

Positron emission tomography (PET) gives cardiologists a clear view of the heart without invasive procedures. During a PET image, a patient is injected with a small amount of radioactive tracer. The blood stream carries the material to the heart where a special camera shows a detailed picture of the heart and the heart’s blood flow. Healthy muscles show more of the material indicating good blood flow while less-healthy areas will show less absorption.

This type of PET imaging is the most accurate test available for assessing the impact of cardiovascular blockages in patients who may be at risk for heart attack.

The non-invasive new PET image takes less than an hour.