Radionuclide techniques in the selection of patients for PTCA and in post-PTCA evaluation

Myocardial perfusion imaging plays an important role in the selection of patients for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) by identifying patients with coronary artery disease and by determining the physiologic significance of a particular stenosis, and therefore, the need for PTCA. In the immediate post-PTCA period, it is useful to evaluate patients with recurrent symptoms, but frequent false-positives preclude routine application in asymptomatic patients. The most important role of myocardial perfusion imaging is the evaluation of restenosis with the first 6 months post- angioplasty. It also provides accurate information in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and in the settings of single and multivessel PTCA and partial and complete revascularization.