Nuclear Department

History of Nuclear Cardiology in AFIC/NIHD dates back to 1993/1994, when a planar Siemens portable gamma camera system was used to perform cardiac scintigraphy. With the start of weekly import of radiopharmaceuticals.

The department has evolved into an international level Nuclear Cardiology setup, located on the ground floor of the main building of AFIC with 3 x dual-head, dedicated cardiac SPECT gamma camera systems, DDD Coream, installed in 2020, Philips CardioMD, installed in 2006 and has recently Introduced Pakistan’s first CZT Based dedicated Cardiac Gamma Camera DSPECT Cardio by SPECTRUM DYNAMICS with capability of Dynamic Imaging to measure Myocardial Blood Flow (MBF) and Myocardial Flow Reserve (MFR)/Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR).

The department, over the last three decades, has had the privilege of providing training and understanding in Nuclear Cardiology to postgraduates and undergraduates in Cardiology and Medicine, who are attached for their rotational training and/or want to keep themselves abreast of the latest advances in the field.

Patient volume has steadily grown over the years, with the increase in patient numbers generally, recommendations of international subject guidelines and due to the growing confidence of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and related consultants in the capabilities of the department. The department performs more then 4500 gated myocardial perfusion studies per year, for diagnosis, prognosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease and assessment of myocardial viability and offers its services to both indoor and outdoor patients of the entitled and non-entitled categories, visiting from across the country. 

The department is capable of performing the following scintigraphic studies:

1. Stress Gated SPECT Technetium 99m MIBI / Thallium-201 Myocardial perfusion studies (Physical / Pharmacological / Dual stress protocols).

2. Stress Gated SPECT Technetium 99m MIBI / Thallium-201 Dynamic Myocardial perfusion studies with Myocardial Blood Flow (MBF) and Myocardial Flow Reserve (MFR)/Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) measurement. 

3. Myocardial viability assessment.

4. MUGA scan / Equilibrium blood pool scintigraphic Studies.

5. Technetium 99m MIBI Parathyroid Scan.

6. Technetium 99m – Thyroid Scan

The department performs 90-110 cardiac scintigraphic studies per week, by appointment, 5 days a week. Emergent requests are accommodated within 24 hours, subject to availability of radio pharmaceutical. Daily working hours are from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday. 

Facilities are not available over the weekend and on public holidays.

Appointments:

051-9271002 extension 3030. 051-9272931

Note:

Physician’s advice and all relevant documents need to be presented for a scan appointment to decide about the technique / protocol for the test advised and to give instructions for optimum patient preparation for the test. It is advisable to reconfirm the scan appointment 24-48 hours before the actual date / time of the test, as the radiopharmaceutical used is procured on weekly basis and delays in delivery / non-availability may affect the scan schedule.