Nuclear investigative techniques and their interpretation in the heart and vascular disease

Abstract

Over the last several decades, myocardial perfusion imaging with single photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography has been a mainstay for the evaluation of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease non-invasively. Technical advances in imaging modalities and radiopharmaceutical have revolutionaries the understanding of pathogenesis and management of various diseases. In this article, we shall discuss the various available imaging nuclear medicine techniques, radiopharmaceutical, and common indications. In the era of “precision medicine,” imaging has to be patient centered. We will briefly review the upcoming areas of nuclear medicine imaging apart from perfusion imaging, such as advances in myocardial blood flow quantitation and molecular imaging.

Keywords

• coronary artery disease
• coronary flow reserve
• ischemic heart disease
• myocardial perfusion imaging
• positron emission tomography
• single-photon emission computed tomography
• viability