Author(s): Dr Banu SathyaMurthi, Dr Parthiban Arumugam

Hospital: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Reference: RAD Magazine, 47, 533, 21-23

Excerpt: 

Despite significant advances in medicine, cardiovascular diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Early detection and appropriate management can significantly reduce the burden on healthcare providers. PET with x-ray CT (PETCT) has inherent advantages over conventional SPECT cardiac imaging but its routine use in cardiology is limited by high demand on existing PETCT facilities for oncology. This article aims to give a brief overview of the principles of cardiovascular PETCT imaging and emerging applications in both diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, cardiovascular infections and inflammatory disorders.