Discover how Cardiac PET/CT revolutionizes heart disease diagnosis and treatment, especially for women.
Meet Sue Harrises, Regional Director of PET/CT Imaging
A warm welcome to Sue Harrises, the new Regional Director of PET/CT Imaging at Shields Health! A Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist with deep expertise, Sue brings specialized skills in cardiac and oncology PET clinical applications. Her leadership and experience will be key in elevating our imaging capabilities, particularly in pushing forward advancements in cardiac PET/CT services.
This February, we had an inspiring conversation with Sue about the future of cardiac PET/CT and how her expertise will drive Shields Health’s dedication to innovation and exceptional patient care. We’re especially excited about the opportunities to improve cardiac imaging for women, addressing the unique challenges they often face in this area. Welcome to the team, Sue!
Understanding Cardiac PET/CT
What exactly is Cardiac PET/CT, and why are so many experts excited about it? Well, imagine having a test that provides your doctor with crystal-clear images of your heart, helping them catch subtle signs of trouble that other methods might miss. That’s the unique power of Cardiac PET/CT. It’s an advanced imaging technique that maps blood flow to your heart and detects coronary artery disease with remarkable precision.
Sue Harrises explains it best: “Cardiac PET/CT is a game-changer, especially for women and patients with higher BMIs who often face challenges with traditional imaging. This technology gives us reliable, actionable information in ways we haven’t been able to achieve before.”
What makes this test so special? To start, it’s faster—usually done in about 30 minutes—and more accurate than older methods like SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). It’s also a better option for diagnosing hard-to-spot conditions, like microvascular disease, which tends to go undetected with other scans. This means the potential for fewer unnecessary procedures, like invasive catheterizations, and added confidence in how physicians approach treatments.
On top of that, it delivers consistent, high-quality images while keeping radiation exposure low. With its ability to pinpoint potential problems early, Cardiac PET/CT is a major step forward in improving how we protect heart health for everyone, especially women.
Why Cardiac PET/CT is Crucial for Women's Heart Health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S.1 Did you know two out of three women have at least one risk factor for coronary artery disease, and those risks only grow with age? Adding to the complexity, women often experience heart disease symptoms differently than men—making diagnosis more difficult and, at times, delayed2.
Cardiac PET/CT can make a real difference. “Cardiac PET/CT is remarkably good at detecting issues like microvascular disease and ischemia,” says Sue. “These are conditions we see more often in women, but they’re also the ones that traditional tests often miss. Unlike other techniques, PET/CT isn’t easily thrown off by challenges like high BMI or breast tissue—factors that can limit the accuracy of other imaging methods."
Compared to alternatives like SPECT or standard stress tests, Cardiac PET/CT is a game-changer when it comes to precision, delivering up to 85% diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease3. This kind of reliability means doctors can catch problems earlier, leading to faster, more effective treatments that directly improve quality of life.
However, access is still an issue. “The truth is, as groundbreaking as PET/CT is, it’s not as widely available as it should be,” Sue admits. “Here in Massachusetts, many community healthcare facilities don’t have the equipment or trained staff. The high cost can also be a barrier.” However, Sue remains optimistic, sharing that expanding access to this critical tool could revolutionize how we address heart disease in women. With better availability, more women could receive the accurate diagnoses and life-saving care they truly need.
Enhanced Accessibility: Bringing Cardiac PET/CT to Community Hospitals
Shields is proud to be launching a Shields Cardiac PET/CT program later this year. For the first time, Shields will be bringing Cardiac PET/CT into community regions in Massachusetts, an approach that allows patients to access advanced cardiac imaging without the need to travel to Boston.
By expanding access to this cutting-edge technology, Shields Health is making a significant impact on community health. Our network allows us to manage costs effectively, ensuring that more patients can benefit from superior diagnostic imaging capabilities, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Thank you to Sue Harrises, for joining our team, and speaking to us about the new program – and its benefits to women's health.
Sources:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html
2 https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease/women
