CT/Pet Scan Specialist

Florida Hearts

Board Certified Cardiologist located in Ocala, FL & Chiefland, FL

When it comes to cardiovascular disease, getting an accurate diagnosis ensures you get the right treatment. At Florida Hearts in Chiefland, The Villages, and Ocala, Florida, Ravindra Kolaventy, MD, FACC, a board-certified cardiologist, and the team offer on-site computer tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. They perform CT/PET scans the same day as your initial consultation, so you get the answers you need quickly. To schedule your CT/PET scan, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

CT/Pet Scan Q & A

What is a CT/PET scan?

CT and PET scans are advanced diagnostic imaging tests that provide detailed images of your heart and blood vessels.

CT scan

The CT scan is a type of X-ray that provides 3D images of your heart and blood vessels.

PET scan

The PET scan is a noninvasive nuclear imaging test. During the scan, your provider injects radioactive tracers into your body. These tracers are made from natural compounds that are “tagged” with a tiny amount of radioactive material.

The radioactive material emits gamma rays, and your provider uses a gamma ray detector to create clear images of your heart and blood vessels from multiple angles and directions.

Why would I need a CT/PET scan?

The team at Florida Hearts explains why you need a CT/PET scan during your evaluation. Each diagnostic imaging test is used for different reasons.

You may need a CT scan to diagnose:

Coronary heart disease
Congenital heart defect
Heart valve problems
Blockages in the blood vessels to the heart

A CT scan also evaluates your heart’s pumping function.

The team at Florida Hearts may recommend a PET scan to accurately diagnose coronary artery disease and assess the flow of blood through your heart. The advanced diagnostic test also assesses the health of your heart tissue and helps determine if you need surgical intervention such as a coronary artery bypass.

What happens during a CT scan?

The team at Florida Hearts performs your CT scan at the office.

During a CT scan, you lie on an exam table, and your provider attaches electrodes to your body to measure cardiac activity.

Your provider slides the exam table into the scanner, and the X-ray machine rotates around your body to capture the images. You must lie as still as possible during the scan so your provider gets the best possible images. They may also inject a contrast dye during the scan, depending on your cardiologist’s request.

A CT scan takes about 10 minutes.

What happens during a PET scan?

For an in-office PET scan, your provider has you lie on the exam table, attaches the electrodes, and then slides you into the scanner to collect baseline images of your heart and blood vessels.

Then, your provider inserts an intravenous line into your arm and administers the radioactive tracers, and slides you back into the scanner for more pictures.

Your board-certified cardiologist may also perform a nuclear stress test during your PET scan. During this test, they inject a medication that increases cardiac activity and blood flow.

The PET scan takes one to three hours.

To learn more about a CT/PET scan at Florida Hearts, call the office or book an appointment online today.