title: Neuronal imaging using SPECT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is one of only a few methods available for objective evaluation of cardiac sympathetic function at a clinical level. Disorders in cardiac sympathetic function play an important role in various heart diseases, and MIBG provides an abundance of useful information for evaluation of disease severity, prognosis, and therapeutic effects; this information is of particular value in patients with heart failure, ischemic heart diseases, or arrhythmic disorders. On the other hand, the quantitative indices for MIBG differ between institutions, and evidence has not been sufficiently well established for MIBG, compared with myocardial perfusion imaging, in ischemic heart diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In view of these difficulties, this review provides fundamental information regarding MIBG, its usefulness for various diseases and future difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovasular Medicine, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 6-11-1 Omori-nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan. shohei@uhchan.com
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashina
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
mesh_terms: D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000494:pharmacology; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D009638:Norepinephrine