title: Nitrogen-13 ammonia perfusion imaging: relation to metabolic imaging.
abstract: PET provides an advanced imaging technology that permits the accurate definition of regional tracer distribution. In combination with N-13 ammonia, PET allows for the sensitive and specific detection of coronary artery disease. Results of several studies indicate the superiority of this approach compared with standard thallium-201 tomographic imaging. In addition, regional blood flow can be accurately measured with N-13 ammonia PET, and this approach can be used in conjunction with pharmacologic stress imaging to quantify regional flow reserve. In combination with metabolic markers, N-13 ammonia is capable of assessing myocardial viability. Furthermore, the N-13 ammonia PET approach may differentiate among various forms of cardiomyopathy. More studies are needed to define the cost-benefit ratio of the N-13 ammonia PET technique for the management of patients with coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kuijper
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gerhards
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: D'Haene
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: van der Wall
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009590:Nitrogen Radioisotopes; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D009590:Nitrogen Radioisotopes; D000641:Ammonia