Korean J Nucl Med.
2005 Apr;39(2):69-74.
Radiopharmaceuticals of Cardiac SPECT Imaging
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, The College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. nm@catholic.ac.kr
Abstract
- Ever since it was first introduced as a method of scintigraphically measuring regional myocardial perfusion, myocardial perfusion study has been widely used in patients diagnosed or suspected with coronary artery diseases, and continuously improved upon. In addition to the technological enhancement of nuclear medicine equipments, the innovation of radiopharmaceuticals used in the cardiac exams were important contributors to such improvement. Besides the cardiac perfusion studies, new radiopharmaceuticals that visualize fat metabolism or receptors of the sympathetic nervous system have successfully been applied to clinical practice. More information can be collected before diagnosing coronary vascular disease, evaluating the patient's condition, or assessing therapeutic effects. In this review article, the clinical efficacy and characteristics of radiopharmaceutical products tailored for cardiac SPECT that are commonly used in Korea currently, plus the ones not being used yet but have proven value are briefly described.
