A perfect tool for comprehensive evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function: Stress PET imaging

Excerpt

Pharmacologic stress cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) is a highly advanced technique for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). In comparison with traditional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), MPI with PET provides faster acquisition, better quality, less attenuation artifact, lower radiation burden, and more accurate quantitation of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and perfusion reserve (MPR). With all the advantages, MPI with PET brings higher diagnostic accuracy and more accurate risk stratification and decision-making to patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).1^–3 In addition, applying ECG-gating technique further enables MPI with PET to simultaneously assess left ventricular (LV) functions and synchrony not only at resting but also at peak-stress status.4,5 All of these myocardial substrates produce additional values in diagnosis and prognosis6,7 and also provide wonderful opportunities for researches on the pathophysiology mechanisms in patients with CAD and heart failure. …