Nuclear Cardiology

Nuclear cardiology studies are non-invasive procedures to assess how your blood flows through the heart. The studies evaluate how your heart pumps to help visualize, detect and manage heart disease.

During the procedure, small amounts of a safe solution are introduced into your body. A special camera detects the solution in different parts of the body and a computer generates a series of images of your heart.

Nuclear cardiac imaging can help determine if there is adequate blood flow to the heart muscle during stress (activity) versus rest. It can also evaluate heart function and the presence of prior heart attacks.

These cardiac images help doctors identify heart disease, the severity of prior heart attacks and the risk of future heart attacks. This helps your doctor determine the best treatment approach for your optimal health and well-being.

Prioritizing Comfort and Expert Nuclear Cardiology

Our beautiful and comfortable nuclear cardiology space (called the nuclear cardiology laboratory) is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC/Nuclear).

We provide the highest level of clinical expertise — while also prioritizing your comfort at every step. We perform approximately 3,000 nuclear cardiac imaging studies each year.

Types of Nuclear Cardiology

Weill Cornell Medicine provides the full range of nuclear cardiology procedures:

Cardiac SPECT: Cardiac single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans — also called myocardial perfusion imaging — are non-invasive tests that are used to assess the heart’s structure and function.

SPECT scans: This type of scan uses small, specialized cameras to produce images of the heart. These images allow cardiologists to assess blood flow inside the heart and detect areas of unhealthy heart muscle. Information obtained from SPECT scans can be used to:

●      Identify blockages in the coronary arteries

●      Determine whether you have had a heart attack

●      Try to predict if you are at high risk for a heart attack

●      Assess your heart health after bypass surgery or angioplasty 

PET (positron emission tomography): This type of nuclear imaging can evaluate heart function and inflammation. Performed in New York-Presbyterian’s Division of Nuclear Medicine, PET scans can be used to look for coronary artery disease by examining how blood flows through the heart; it can evaluate damage to heart tissue after a heart attack. It can also help determine if the heart is suffering from inflammation associated with another condition. Your physician can use this information to determine the best course of treatment for you.

MUGA (multiple gated acquisition) scan: This test is also called radionuclide angiography (RNA). It is used to evaluate heart function by measuring how much blood is pumped out of the heart with each ejection fraction (heartbeat).

During this procedure, a small amount of a safe, radioactive solution is introduced into a vein. This substance attaches to red blood cells, which are visualized by a special camera and computer as they travel through the heart, and the ejection fraction is calculated based on the computer-generated images.