Challenges, Current Status, and Future Utility of PET in Cardiovascular Disorders

1364Objectives: Over the past decade, cardiovascular imaging has made great advances by providing comprehensive information in regards to the anatomic structure of the vasculature, heart, and heart function, thus enabling physicians to accurately diagnose a disease and provide better patient care. Moreover, complicated diseases require the integration of multiple imaging modalities to effectively manage such conditions. In particular, PET imaging has been combined with other imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve its uses in clinical practice. CT and MRI offer anatomical imaging, whereas PET imaging provides an unparalleled advantage with highly sensitive imaging capable of quantifying disease activity. In fact, the true potential of molecular imaging approaches with PET lies in its ability to detect and quantify disease activity at a molecular level well before structural pathology becomes evident. The applications of PET are strengthened with the use of tracers such as 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18-sodium fluoride (NaF) in cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease (CHD). PET is well known to be an important tool in assessing cardiac viability and perfusion in CHD. Furthermore, PET has received recognition for its ability to estimate absolute myocardial blood flow. This would allow for patients to be risk stratified for appropriate management and benefit from timely revascularization. The disadvantag...
Source: Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Sciences (Poster Session) Source Type: research