PET/CT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Acquisition and Processing: Ten Tips and Tricks to Help You Succeed

AbstractPurpose of ReviewPositron emission tomography (PET) is a leading non-invasive modality for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease due to its diagnostic accuracy and high image quality. With the latest advances in PET systems, clinicians are able to assess for myocardial ischemia and myocardial blood flow while exposing patients to extremely low radiation doses. This review will focus on the basics of acquisition and processing of hybrid PET/CT systems from appropriate patient selection to common artifacts and pitfalls.Recent FindingsThe continued development of hybrid PET/CT technology is producing scanners with exquisite sensitivity capable of generating high-quality images while exposing patients to low radiation doses. List mode acquisition is an essential component in all modern PET/CT scanners allowing simultaneous dynamic and ECG-gated imaging without lengthening scan duration. Various PET radiotracers are currently being developed but rubidium-82 and 13N-ammonia remain the most commonly used perfusion radiotracers. The development of mini 13N-ammonia cyclotrons is a promising tool that should increase access to this radiotracer. Misregistration, attenuation from extra-cardiac activity, and patient motion are the most common causes of artifacts during perfusion imaging. Techniques to automatically realign images and correct respiratory or patient motion artifacts continue to evolve.SummaryDespite the continuous evolution of PET imaging techniques, basic knowle...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research