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Detection of coronary artery disease with /sup 13/N-ammonia and high-resolution positron-emission computed tomography

Journal Article · · Am. Heart J.; (United States)

In order to evaluate the detectability of coronary artery disease (CAD) with positron-emission computed tomography (PET), we performed /sup 13/N-ammonia myocardial PET scanning at rest and with exercise loading in 20 normal subjects and 40 patients with CAD, by means of a high-resolution, multi-slice, whole-body PET scanner. Myocardial PET scanning was performed 3 minutes after injection of /sup 13/N-ammonia at rest and during exercise. The circumferential profile analysis of resting PET images revealed regional hypoperfusion in 96% of CAD patients with previous myocardial infarction and in 29% of those without infarction. Exercise PET studies showed high sensitivity (93%) in detecting CAD without myocardial infarction, whereas no abnormal hypoperfusion was detected in normal subjects. Segmental analysis of regional myocardial perfusion with exercise stress identified 67 of 75 stenosed vessels (89%). We conclude that /sup 13/N-ammonia myocardial PET with exercise loading provides high-quality tomographic images of regional myocardial perfusion and is a valuable technique for detecting CAD.

Research Organization:
Kyoto Univ. School of Medicine, Japan
OSTI ID:
6592857
Journal Information:
Am. Heart J.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Heart J.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN AHJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English