From Myocardial Blood Flow to Receptor Imaging with PET

Abstract

Cardiac PET with assessment of myocardial perfusion and flow quantification with cardiovascular risk prediction in clinically-manifest and subclinical CAD has evolved as a mainstay in the clinical decision-making process. In this respect, cardiovascular PET continuous to expand its clinical scope with assessment of infiltrative-inflammatory cardiac disease, vasculitis, and device infections. Conversely, PET flow quantification for the identification and characterization of coronary circulatory dysfunction in conjunction with various biomarkers has provided unique "in vivo" insight into early functional stages of the CAD process that may complement or even guide experimental studies that investigate direct cause-effect relationships. Further, emerging radiotracer probes with PET may probe non-invasively myocardial receptor expressions, such as cannabinoid type 1 receptors that may play a role in heart failure development in obesity and/or diabetes mellitus deserving further clinical evaluation.