Nuclear cardiology

Radionuclide cardiac imaging is a safe, noninvasive alternative to cardiac catheterization for observation and evaluation of cardiac wall motion and calculation of ejection fraction. Nuclide imaging offers a greater degree of sensitivity and specificity in detecting myocardial ischemia and infarction than do conventional electrocardiographic and cardiac enzyme studies. It is especially useful in problem cases. Myocardial infarction can usually be evaluated with respect to size and relative age of infarction.