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Molecular Imaging of Cardiac Amyloidosis

  • Nuclear Cardiology (V Dilsizian, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of this review is to give an update on the molecular imaging tools currently available as well as to discuss the potential roles and limitations of molecular imaging in cardiac amyloidosis.

Recent Findings

Molecular imaging plays a central role in the evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis. It can be used to diagnose and distinguish between the different types of cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnostic properties of bone scintigraphy are such that it allows reliable diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis without the need of endomyocardial biopsy in a significant proportion of patients. Furthermore, molecular tracers assessing amyloid plaque burden and sympathetic innervation may be useful for the non-invasive evaluation diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis.

Summary

Cardiac amyloidosis is an under-recognized cause of left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure in the elderly. The role of molecular imaging in cardiac amyloidosis is expected to grow considering the arrival of new therapies and molecular imaging probes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau & Francois Harel

  2. Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau

  3. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Gad Abikhzer

  4. Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Genevieve Giraldeau

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  1. Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau
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Correspondence to Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau.

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Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau, Gad Abikhzer, Genevieve Giraldeau, and Francois Harel declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Pelletier-Galarneau, M., Abikhzer, G., Giraldeau, G. et al. Molecular Imaging of Cardiac Amyloidosis. Curr Cardiol Rep 21, 12 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-019-1097-9

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