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Back to Cardiac Imaging
Cardiac perfusion imaging
Myocardial perfusion imaging is a noninvasive method for
assessing the regional myocardial blood flow.
Technique
It depends on the introduction of a radioactive tracer and its
uptake into the myocardial cells. Two types of tracer substance are
used; Thalium-201 (a potassium analogue) and Technitium-99 based
agent which is more advanced as regards improved imaging
characteristics are used to assess myocardial perfusion and left
ventricular performance in the same study. Areas which are
ischemic, have little blood flow and hence do not take up the tracer
as well as normally perfused areas. This can be accentuated by
exercise. Sometimes a drug (dipyridamole) is used to accentuate the
ischemia and mimic the effect of exercise. Both exercise and resting
views are compared to reveal areas showing reperfusion (ischemia) and
areas showing fixed defects (infarcts). The involved arteries can be
predicted. Indications
- Cases with chest pain but without the classical picture when
ischemic heart disease is suspected.
- Cases with acute myocardial infarction who have undergone
thrombolysis to estimate the area salvaged.
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