For Immediate Release     

5/9/06  

Improving Cardiac Diagnostics With PET-CT

Goshen, Ind. – GHS is the only hospital in the state of Indiana using the PET-CT to improve cardiology diagnostics. Radiologists and cardiologists at Goshen Health System are now working together using the PET-CT to get sharper more accurate images of the heart.  This new method of looking at the heart is producing far more accurate results in the diagnosis of heart disease.

“Using the PET-CT for diagnostics allows us to correct for different body sizes.  We are getting sharper, more accurate images of larger patients’ hearts,” said Michael Holt, M.D.  Holt noted the different expertise each physician contributes by working together. “The radiologist specializes in the technical part of the test, and the cardiologist is the clinical expert.”

Typically, Cardiac patients receive a SPECT test. A SPECT test requires the patient to visit the hospital on two consecutive days, receive an injection, and walk on a treadmill to stress the heart. The SPECT test is relatively safe, but it is sometimes difficult to get clear pictures of the heart.  Variables that affect image clarity with the SPECT test include patient size, and whether they have difficulty raising their heart rate by walking on a treadmill. 

With the PET-CT diagnostic test the patient is only required to visit the hospital once, and does not have to walk on a treadmill. The patient receives a different injection that appears on the PET-CT scan, and is not hindered by patient size. The physician receives clear images of the heart and accurate test results in 35 minutes.

Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, The Retreat Women’s Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health, which includes Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis and Riley Hospital for Children. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact Public Relations Coordinator, at 574/535-2776 or visit its Web site at www.goshenhealth.com.