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Positron emission tomography (PET) is an advanced imaging approach which allows quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion and metabolism. We use PET not only to diagnose coronary artery disease in patients with equivocal studies from conventional diagnostic techniques, but also to evaluate myocardial viability (the ability of the heart to recover after revascularization) in patients with heart failure. Studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that up to 50% of patients who were thought to need heart transplantation for severe heart failure could, in fact, undergo coronary artery bypass grafting safely and have increased heart function. In addition, using mathematical approaches developed and validated in our laboratory, we utilize PET extensively for research applications evaluating myocardial perfusion and metabolism.
We utilize a 2 whole-body PET scanner in the Kreitchman PET Center for cardiac studies. The PET scanners are located on the 3rd floor of the Milstein Hospital Building in the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. We have a cyclotron in the basement of the Milstein Building and a state-of-the-art radiochemistry laboratory adjacent to the PET facility for research and development in new positron-emitting tracers. In addition to cyclotron produced PET tracers we also have rubidium generators for rapid diagnostic perfusion imaging with pharmacological stress.
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