Cardiac imaging: non-invasive techniques

Question 1

Nuclear imaging such MIBI SCAN / uses what radio tracer ?

Answer 1

technetium (99mTc) sestamibi:

Question 2

Nuclear imaging such as cardiac Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans uses what radio tracer ?

Answer 2

technetium (99mTc) sestamibi

Question 3

Nuclear imaging such Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans uses what radiotracer ?

Answer 3

fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)

Question 4

how do SPECT assess myocardial perfusion and myocardial viability

Answer 4

First the myocardium at rest followed by images of the myocardium during stress (either exercise or following adenosine / dipyridamole)

areas of ischaemia can classified as reversible or fixed (e.g. Following a myocardial infarction)

Question 5

what is MUGA

Answer 5

Multi Gated Acquisition Scan, also known as radionuclide angiography

Question 6

MUGA
Multi Gated Acquisition Scan, also known as radionuclide angiography uses what radio tracer ?

Answer 6

(technetium-99m) is injected intravenously
placed under a gamma camera

Question 7

MUGA can accurately measure what ? and is used for what ?

Answer 7

measure left ventricular ejection fraction

Typically used before and after cardiotoxic drugs are used

may be performed as a stress test

Question 8

Cardiac CT is useful for assessing suspected ischaemic heart disease, using two main methods

Answer 8

calcium score

contrast enhanced CT

Question 9

what is the calcium score in Cardiac CT ?

Answer 9

correlation between the amount of atherosclerotic plaque calcium and the risk of future ischaemic events. Cardiac CT can quantify the amount of calcium producing a ‘calcium score’

Question 10

what can we see in contrast enhanced CT

Answer 10

allows visualisation of the coronary artery lumen

Question 11

If these two techniques are combined cardiac CT has a very high ?

Answer 11

negative predictive value for ischaemic heart disease.

Question 12

gold standard for providing structural images of the heart.

Answer 12

Cardiac MRI (commonly termed CMR)

Question 13

Cardiac MRI particularly useful when assessing for?

Answer 13

congenital heart disease, determining right and left ventricular mass and differentiating forms of cardiomyopathy.

Question 14

CMR provides limited data on?

Answer 14

extent of coronary artery disease

Question 15

Cardiac MRI uses what substance ?

Answer 15

gadolinium.