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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Positron emission tomography of the heart

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5658002· OSTI ID:5658002

Positron emission computed tomography (PCT) represents an important new tool for the noninvasive evaluation and, more importantly, quantification of myocardial performance. Most currently available techniques permit assessment of only one aspect of cardiac function, i.e., myocardial perfusion by gamma scintillation camera imaging with Thallium-201 or left ventricular function by echocardiography or radionuclide angiocardiography. With PCT it may become possible to study all three major segments of myocardial performance, i.e., regional blood flow, mechanical function and, most importantly, myocardial metabolism. Each of these segments can either be evaluated separately or in combination. This report briefly describes the principles and technological advantages of the imaging device, reviews currently available radioactive tracers and how they can be employed for the assessment of flow, function and metabolism; and, lastly, discusses possible applications of PCT for the study of cardiac physiology or its potential role in the diagnosis of cardiac disease.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Los Angeles (USA). Lab. of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-03-0012
OSTI ID:
5658002
Report Number(s):
UCLA-12-1232
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English