Nuclear Imaging in West Orange, NJ

Heart disease is a very serious condition that is the leading cause of death in the western world.

According to the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, more than 500,000 men and women die from coronary artery disease in the USA each year.

To help combat this disease, nuclear cardiology has advanced to help improve outcomes.

The cardiologists with New Jersey Cardiology Associates are all board-certified and have extensive experience with nuclear imaging. If you’re experiencing symptoms of coronary artery disease, nuclear cardiology might be an answer for your situation. Contact New Jersey Cardiology Associates today to schedule an appointment in West Orange, Belleville, Toms River, or Clifton.

What is Nuclear Cardiology?

Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty involving radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. More specifically, nuclear cardiology focuses on conditions of the heart (cardiology). This subspecialty of general cardiology involves the use of radioactive substances and medical imaging to help patients with heart conditions.

This includes analyzing blood flow, analyzing pumping of the heart, and areas of the heart muscle to give you a better look at your heart.

Nuclear cardiology allows providers to help evaluate, diagnose, and treat heart conditions more effectively.

What is Nuclear Cardiology Imaging?

Nuclear imaging evaluates how organs function, unlike other imaging methods that assess how organs appear. This is helpful to understand how your heart is functioning.

During nuclear cardiology imaging, a small and safe amount of radioactive tracer solutions are introduced into the body through an IV or intravenous injection.

From there, a special camera detects the tracer solution in different parts of the body and a computer generates a series of images of the heart.

This is a very helpful overview of your heart and can give you a more compressive view of how the heart is functioning.

What Nuclear Cardiology tests are available?

Often, a nuclear test is combined with a small amount of exercise to get your blood pumping and your heart working.

Your provider will explain the test you may need and help you feel comfortable and at ease throughout.

Common nuclear cardiology tests include:

• Nuclear stress tests or myocardial perfusion imaging to detect and assess coronary artery disease
• Imaging of the nervous system of the heart
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to see blood supply and activity
• Viability studies
• Amyloid (PYP) scans
• Radionuclide cineangiograms (RNCA/MUGA studies) to evaluate global heart function
• and more

What do Nuclear Cardiology imaging tests help diagnose?

Nuclear cardiac imaging can help determine:

• If there is adequate blood flow to the heart muscle during stress versus rest
• This high-level imaging also accurately evaluates heart function and the presence of prior heart attacks
• If there are diseases of the heart like coronary heart disease
• Risk of future heart attacks

Benefits of Nuclear Cardiology Imaging

Nuclear cardiology has benefitted both patients and providers as they work together to fight against heart disease.

Other benefits of nuclear imaging include:

• More precise medical evaluation
• Refining prescription medications
• Better analysis of risks
• Accurate evaluation of cardiac function
• Ability to determine the need for further testing
• More accurate referrals for surgery or devices

These tests play a vital role as cardiology services continue to improve.