Fusion of PET, CT Coronary Angiography Measures Changes in Myocardial Blood Flow Across Coronary Artery Lesions

Background: Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging can underestimate the extent of coronary artery disease, because it tends to show the most severely underperfused coronary artery territories; while better-perfused territories may appear relatively normal by comparison, even if diseased. This is more likely to occur in the setting of left main disease. Determination of absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) or myocardial flow reserve (MFR) can help detect underperfused coronary artery territories even if they appear well-perfused by imaging. Objective: To determine whether a hybrid combination of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) plus positron emission tomography (PET) using 13 N-ammonia as an imaging agent can detect changes in MBF or MFR across diseased coronary arteries. Participants/Methods: The study included 7 consecutive patients who underwent CTCA, ammonia PET/CT, and invasive coronary angiography. PET/CT and CTCA images w more...