A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is used to take detailed pictures of the heart muscle to help diagnose coronary artery disease or assess the damage caused by a heart attack. In this test, your doctor will place sticky pads called electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs to record your heart’s activity during the test. A radioactive substance will be injected into your arm. You’ll lie on a table connected to the PET scanner, which will slide you into the machine. The scanner will take several scans over time. A cardiac PET scan can take up to 3 hours to complete.
