Regional Myocardial Perfusion Assessed by N-13 Labeled Ammonia and Positron Emission Computerized Axial Tomography

摘要

The usefulness of exp 13 NH sub 3 as an indicator of regional myocardial perfusion suitable for positron emission computerized axial tomography (PCT) has been suggested. However, the relationship between myocardial blood flow and uptake of exp 13 NH sub 3 has not been examined quantitatively. It was therefore the purpose of the current investigation to quantitate the relationship of myocardial exp 13 NH sub 3 tissue concentration to myocardial blood flow and to examine its suitability for PCT imaging. Twelve open chest dogs were studied. In 8 of the dogs 25 imaging procedures with exp 13 NH sub 3 and PCT were performed. In the remaining four dogs the relationship between flow and myocardial exp 13 NH sub 3 tissue concentration was assessed by in vitro techniques. The PCT technique provided high quality cross-sectional images of the distribution of exp 13 NH sub 3 in left ventricular myocardium. No significant redistribution of exp 13 NH sub 3 in myocardium occurred with time. Alterations in regional myocardial blood flow resulted in changes of the regional distribution of exp 13 NH sub 3 that were readily appreciated on the PCT images. (ERA citation 03:051129)