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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
[Imaging of the myocardium with thallium-201]
Abstract:
Myocardial imaging after the intravenous injection of radionuclides offers a non-invasive, highly sensitive and reliable method for the detection of myocardial infarction and regional myocardial ischaemia. Considerable attention has been given to various isotopes as a means of independent assessment of regional blood flow distribution in the normal, ischaemic or infarcted myocardium. The clinical use of cationic tracers such as potassium-43 and rubidium-81 is based upon the principle that tracer uptake is proportional to regional myocardial blood flow. A region of absent tracer uptake suggests the presence of previous infarction or fibrosis, while a new perfusion defect appearing after stress suggests transient ischaemia. These isotopes, however, have significant physical limitations as imaging agents. The physical and biological properties of thallium-201, however, make it ideally suited for imaging of the myocardium with currently available imaging equipment.
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