Planar cardiac F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose imaging with a conventional gamma camera.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential of an adapted gamma camera to image cardiac uptake of the positron emitting glucose analogue fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). DESIGN: Postprandial studies were performed in 19 patients (mean age, 56 +/- 9 years) with coronary disease and resting cardiac dysfunction who had undergone a routine clinical 7 min/view planar thallium-201 (Tl-201) stress reinjection or rest redistribution study. A glucose/insulin protocol was used and, an hour after FDG injection, 15-minute static planar myocardial images were acquired in the four views used for Tl-201 scanning. RESULTS: The diagnostic quality of FDG images was at least as good as that of their Tl-201 counterparts, with less liver background in all but one FDG study. In the left anterior oblique 45 degrees view uncorrected global myocardial FDG and stress Tl-201 counts were similar, but the FDG study had significantly higher peak myocardial to background ratios. CONCLUSION: Assessing regional cardiac FDG uptake and myocardial perfusion seems feasible with conventional gamma camera technology, providing a widely available and cost effective means of detecting hibernating myocardium. Similar equipment may appreciably reduce the need for positron emission tomography in a range of clinical conditions.