ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular imaging plays an important role in the assessment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Non-invasive anatomical or functional imaging can provide information on coronary artery anatomy and course, left ventricular size and function, myocardial ischaemia and viability. Stable CAD is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with substantial associated cost. Computed tomography (CT) has high accuracy for the detection of the presence, extent and location of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Radionuclide myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) enables evaluation of cardiac perfusion and function in patients with suspected CAD. MPS requires the administration of a radioactive perfusion tracer, which is usually administered intravenously, and a gamma camera system, utilising single-photon emission computed tomography, for the detection of the gamma photons. Hybrid applications of non-invasive imaging are becoming available that typically involve anatomical imaging combined with functional imaging for ischaemia.
