Dual-isotope cardiac scanning

["Gibbs, S Julian" <s.julian.gibbs@vanderbilt.edu>]

There is another dual-isotope cardiac nuclear medicine scanning 

technique that is quite new and state-of-the-art.  It uses Tc-99m 

Sestamibi and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose simultaneously.  The 

Sestamibi images perfusion and FDG images metabolism of cardiac 

muscle.  F-18 is a positron emitter, and early imaging was done 

using positron emission tomography (PET).  More recently it has 

been shown that single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 

is useful for this imaging, allowing simultaneous collection of 

data for Tc-99m and F-18.

In those cases where Tc-99m shows limited perfusion but F-18 shows 

active metabolism, the damaged cardiac muscle is still alive and 

can benefit from reperfusion from either coronary bypass surgery or 

coronary angioplasty.  In those cases with limited perfusion and no 

evidence of metabolism, the muscle is probably no longer vital and 

not likely to benefit significantly from reperfusion.



This procedure is quite new.  A related publication on FDG imaging 

alone is: Radiology. 2001 Jan;218(1):163-71.

***********************************************************

S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD              Office: 615-322-1477

Professor, Emeritus

Dept. of Radiology & Radiological Sciences

Vanderbilt University Medical Center     Home: 615-356-3615

209 Oxford House        Email:s.julian.gibbs@vanderbilt.edu

Nashville TN 37232-4245     or alias:j.gibbs@vanderbilt.edu

***********************************************************

The slogan of the times--whether for a nation or an indivi-

dual--seems to be "Selbst uber alles": Down with everything

and up with me.

                        Sir Robert Baden Powell

                        Founder, Boy Scouts

                        ca 1910

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/