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Combined Anatomic and Perfusion Imaging of the Heart

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Abstract

Recent technological advances provided clinicians with multiple options for diagnosing and prognosticating patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Myocardial perfusion imaging with single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography is a powerful tool for assessing physiologically significant coronary atherosclerosis, but is unable to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. Coronary computed tomographic angiography permits rapid noninvasive assessment of the coronaries and demonstrates an impressive negative predictive value in the clinical literature. Nevertheless, the positive predictive value of computed tomographic angiography for clinically significant CAD is suboptimal. The combination of both of these techniques provides an opportunity to the clinician to assess for subclinical atherosclerosis (with important implications for therapy in low-intermediate risk patients) and functionally significant lesions in patients with extensive CAD. However, the application of this technology has to be implemented on a case-by-case basis to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and cost.

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Abbreviations

ACCURACY:

Assessment by Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography of Individuals Undergoing Invasive Coronary Angiography

CORE 64:

Coronary Artery Evaluation Using 64-Row Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography

NHANES:

National Health and Nutrition Surveys

SCCT:

Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

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Disclosure

Dr. Marcelo Di Carli has received research grants from GE, Siemens, Bracco, and Astellas. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, ASB L1-037C, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Bilal Ali, Edward Hsiao & Marcelo F. Di Carli

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  1. Bilal Ali
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  2. Edward Hsiao
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  3. Marcelo F. Di Carli
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Correspondence to Marcelo F. Di Carli.

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Ali, B., Hsiao, E. & Di Carli, M.F. Combined Anatomic and Perfusion Imaging of the Heart. Curr Cardiol Rep 12, 90–97 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-009-0081-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-009-0081-1

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