MANHASSET, NY -- North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) is the only local address (and one of 12 locations worldwide and six in the US) for the latest innovation in nuclear medicine -- a $900,000 camera for cardiac stress tests that provides heart images four times faster than previous technology, and makes it possible to limit radiation burden to the patient by as much as 50 percent.

“This is the first major breakthrough in nuclear stress testing since its inception in the early 1980s,” said Stanley Katz, MD, senior vice president for cardiovascular services for the North Shore-LIJ Health System and chairman of cardiology at NSUH and LIJ Medical Center. “By adding speed and greater accuracy to the test, we’re enhancing patient safety and improving outcomes through more precise readings.” Dr. Katz explained that the camera conducts a scan in three to five minutes as opposed to 20 minutes for prior technology, resulting in less exposure to radiation for the patient. 

Developed by General Electric, the Discovery 530c solid state detector nuclear camera offers dose reduction and more accurate imaging of myocardial blood flow in a fraction of the time compared to existing standards, a significant enhancement according to Regina Druz, MD, director of nuclear cardiology at NSUH. “Unlike conventional nuclear imaging, all views are acquired simultaneously,” Dr. Druz said.  There is no need to move the equipment or patient during the scan, resulting in more precise imaging.”

During a nuclear heart scan, a safe, radioactive material called a tracer is injected through a vein into the bloodstream. The tracer then travels to the heart and releases energy, which special cameras outside of the body detect. The cameras use the energy to create pictures of different parts of the heart.

“This new technology brings greater comfort to all patients, and adds an entirely new dimension to the study of the heart,” Dr. Druz said.  “Previously, patients were required to hold their arms above their head for 15-20 minutes for scans.  That is very challenging for patients with arthritic shoulders or back problems. Additionally, an open design and rapid acquisition will help patients who are claustrophobic. Physicians will appreciate high-quality images that are rapidly acquired, and a possibility of scanning with less radiotracer, so the radiation burden to the patients is lessened. It is critically important to reduce the amount of radiation from medical procedures, and our commitment to do so for our patients was an important consideration in choosing this system. The unique design of the camera makes it possible to measure blood flow into the heart at rest and stress, providing information that only PET scanners are able to generate. This application is an area of an intense research.”

Dr. Druz explained that the new innovation acquired this month has already been put to good use. “It’s a great thing for cardiac patients throughout the region; we’ve already scanned over 50 patients with the new camera, and the results are impressive. North Shore University Hospital and New York area residents in general are fortunate to be one of only six locations in the US to have this exciting new technology. By year’s end, we will initiate rapid scanning with less radiation, and that would be of great benefit to our patients.”

For more information on cardiac services visit: www.northshorelij.com.To schedule a nuclear stress test, call (516) 562-3929.  

Contact:  Brian Mulligan
 516-465-2618/2600
 bmulliga@nshs.edu