SCINTIGRAPHIC DETECTION OF HIBERNATING MY OCARDIUM - IS IMAGING WITH FLUORINE-18-DEOXYGLUCOSE AND A CONVENTIONAL GAMMA-CAMERA FEASIBLE

Fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (FDG) usually requires positron emission tomo graphy (PET) for its application in the detection of myocardial viabil ity. The goal of the present investigation was to use FDG with a conve ntional gamma camera. FDG was applied as a metabolic tracer together w ith tc-99m-sestamibi as perfusion marker in dual-isotope scintigraphy. Spatial resolution of 15.2 mm was achieved for FDG in phantom studies 4/10 patients investigated in single photon emission tomography (SPEC T) showed congruent FDG- and MIBI defects (fibrotic scar), 4/10 patien ts had segments with perfusion defects accompanied by preserved glucos e uptake (hibernating myocardium). The results show than an image qual ity sufficient for clinical application can be achieved with a convent ional gamma camera.