The Value of Quantitative Myocardial Blood Flow Using Rb-PET/CT

Background: The additive prognostic value of quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) over perfusion imaging alone in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging has been shown using 13 N-ammonia in positron emission tomography with added low-dose computed tomography (PET/CT). Compared to ammonia, 82 Rb has more roll-off, meaning that at higher blood-flow rates, there is relatively less extraction of 82 Rb from blood than there is of ammonia. 82 Rb is usually more available to imaging centers than ammonia, however, because the latter is short-lived and must be made with a cyclotron; whereas the former can be obtained from a generator. Objective: To determine whether quantitative MBF as assessed with Rb-PET/CT conveys additive prognostic value over perfusion imaging alone in patients with suspected myocardial ischemia. Methods: The study enrolled 351 patients who underwent PET/CT using Rb. Images were evaluated semiquantitatively using a 17-segment model to calculate summed stres more...