Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name First Hospital in New Jersey to Offer Revolutionary Cardiac PET Stress Testing

April 5, 2006

Cardiac PET Takes the Stress out of Stress Tests

Holy Name is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer Cardiac PET stress testing to determine the presence and extent of heart disease.

Cardiac PET stress testing, which utilizes the revolutionary technology of positron emission tomography, can assess with greater accuracy blockages in the coronary arteries and tissue damage in patients who have experienced a significant cardiac event.

"Images from cardiac PET stress testing are far superior than those of traditional nuclear stress testing," explains Jacqueline Brunetti, M.D., director of diagnostic imaging for Holy Name. "Improved accuracy can help cardiologists determine the best course of treatment for their patients, be it medication, angioplasty or surgery."

Cardiac PET stress testing is performed while the patient lies down on a table rather than while exercising on a treadmill. It also offers patients the following benefits over traditional nuclear stress testing:

• reduced testing time 45 minutes instead of three to four hours and lower radiation exposure
• quick and precise evaluation for emergency room patients with chest pain
• improved accuracy for hard-to-test patients, such as those who are obese, have diabetes, cant walk or have orthopedic problems
• improved accuracy for women, whose breast tissue or hormonal changes can affect stress test results negatively