Novel nuclear medical procedures in the detection of microvascular dysfunction

Abstract

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is present in two‐thirds of patients showing symptoms and signs of myocardial ischemia. Their microcirculation has abnormalities due to endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Impairment of this mechanism causes a high risk of adverse cardiovascular event. Diagnosing coronary microvascular dysfunction is challenging. Guidelines recommend the use of nuclear medicine procedures in the above‐mentioned indications. Myocardial perfusion imaging with positron emission tomography is a novel procedure with high diagnostic accuracy and quality of images. It has short acquisition, low effective radiation dose and prognostic factors. There are still unknowns about this procedure and all its benefits.