Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute recently became the first in Ohio to have a Veriton-Spect CT scanner. This innovative technology allows us to perform more diagnostic studies, thereby enhancing the level of care we provide. Scanning is completed in 12 minutes, reducing the time the patient is in the scanner by half.

Why the Veriton-Spect CT is special

One significant advantage of the Veriton-Spect CT scanner is its ability to detect Cardiac Amyloidosis.

This condition involves the accumulation of misshaped proteins in the heart, which can impair its function and eventually lead to heart failure.

To test for Cardiac Amyloidosis, patients typically have two or three appointments in one day. During the first appointment, a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein in the patient’s arm. The only sensation a patient will experience is a small pinprick from the injection needle, and the tracer will naturally exit the patient’s system within two days.

The tracer travels to the heart within one to three hours. During this waiting period, patients are free to eat, drink and move around. In the second appointment, the patient lies on a table while a technologist uses a special camera to scan the chest. Additional imaging may be required during a third appointment on the same day.

The scan produces detailed 3D high-resolution images of the whole body for your healthcare provider to review, helping to determine the best treatment options.

The addition of the Veriton-Spect CT scanner is yet another example of how Genesis continues to bring innovative heart care to our community.

Learn more at genesishcs.org/heart.