Services

Nuclear Cardiology Center

State of the Heart Cardiology is pleased to offer myocardial perfusion imaging for the assessment of coronary artery disease with our "state of the art" Philips nuclear cameras. This technique allows evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function as well as viability. The rest and stress imaging technique can be performed with treadmill exercise or with the pharmacologic agents adenosine or dobutamine. The procedure takes approximately two and one half hours.

Stress tests are commonly used:

• As a diagnostic test when coronary artery disease is suspected based on history or physical exam
• For risk assessment or prognosis in patients with established coronary artery disease
• To help evaluate blood vessels following prior angioplasty or bypass surgery
• As part of health maintenance in an apparently healthy person who has significant risk factors for coronary artery disease

The goal of this imaging service is to provide the referring physician with important clinical information for the ongoing care of the patient. Detailed reports describing the EKG information and the nuclear cardiology scan results are sent to the referring physician. Additional follow-up concerns can be coordinated with State of the Heart Cardiology

Our nuclear cardiology lab is nationally accredited by the Intersocietal Commission of the Accreditation of Nuclear Laboratories (ICANL)

• Nuclear Imaging- Nuclear stress testing is a test that produces images of the heart following a small injection of a radioactive material. There is usually a "stress" component of the test as well. This will either be an injection or involve walking on a treadmill. This test is used to assess the function of your heart muscle and the blood perfusion to your heart

Cardiac and Vascular CT Angiography (Non-invasive Angiography)

Dr. Osborne has more experience with Cardiac and Vascular CT Angiography than any one else in North Texas. He is one of the few Level III Cardiac CT Readers, lectures nationally on Cardiac and Vascular CT, and teaches Cardiac CT for the American College of Cardiology.

• Calcium Scoring - Coronary artery calcification is often the first sign of a heart attack, and is a powerful risk indicator for your chances of developing heart attack. This coronary calcium buildup is detected quickly, easily, and painlessly with a CT Calcium Score. You will receive a score that indicates the extent of calcification of the hearts coronary arteries. If calcium buildup in your arteries is identified, early preventative therapy can be initiated.
• Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular CTA - CT Angiography replaces most invasive cardiac catheterizations and angiograms with a procedure that is faster, simpler, safer, easier, cheaper, and more accurate and is performed in the office. We examine the arteries that travel to the lungs, heart, neck, kidneys, pelvis, and legs to check for blockages and other problems. Aneurysms in the aorta, brain, or other major blood vessels can be identified. Aortic problems such as dissection (where the layers of the artery peel away from each other), and the ability to check functioning stents (mesh tube used to restore blood flow to blocked arteries) are also identified.