The role of stress redistribution thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging in evaluating coronary artery disease and perioperative risk.

Abstract

Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging can provide prognostic information on the risk of future cardiac events in patients with known or suspected chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). In addition, patients at risk for cardiac events during surgery can be risk-stratified preoperatively with myocardial perfusion studies. The presence or absence of transient defects on perfusion images is a strong predictor of subsequent cardiac events. The extent of transient defects, which reflects the extent of jeopardized yet viable myocardium, is useful to predict patient outcome. Myocardial perfusion imaging with 201Tl adds significant prognostic value to standard ECG and clinical data.