FLUORINE 18-LABELED FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE MYOCARDIAL SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY - AN ALTERNATIVE FOR DETERMINING MYOCARDIAL VIABILITY

The identification of hibernating myocardium in patients with poor ven tricular function has become increasingly important as investigators d emonstrate an improvement in ventricular performance in patients with injured but viable myocardium who undergo surgical revascularization. Modifications of Tl-201 redistribution protocols and rest/stress Tc-99 m-labeled hexakis-2-methoxy-2-methyl propylisonitrile perfusion studie s continue to underestimate myocardial viability compared with resting F-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG) positron emission tomograph y. The combined data from multiple investigators suggest that (18)FDG single-photon emission computed tomograpy used in combination with car diac perfusion agents, either sequentially or with simultaneous dual-i sotope acquisition, may provide an acceptable alternative to positron emission tomographic imaging for the detection of hibernating myocardi um.