If the case went to court for whether positron emission tomography (PET) or single, photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is better suited for myocardial perfusion imaging, experts say the current technology and developments on the horizon would result in a hung jury.

The landscape of cardiovascular care is changing. In the cath lab alone, the shift in volume and type of diagnostic and interventional procedures has broadened the lab’s scope, increased demand and raised expectations.

Angiography systems have been a diagnostic mainstay in cardiac cath labs for more than 50 years, playing a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular diseases. Replacing imaging intensifiers with flat panel detectors (FPD) for angiography has broadened digital imaging’s role in the cath lab.