The role of molecular imaging in the evaluation of myocardial and peripheral angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis, or the formation of new microvasculature, is a physiological process that may occur in the setting of chronic tissue ischemia and can play an important role in improving tissue perfusion and blood flow following myocardial infarction or in the presence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Molecular imaging of angiogenesis within the cardiovascular system is a developing field of study. Targeted imaging of angiogenesis has the potential for non-invasive assessment of the underlying molecular signaling events associated with the angiogenic process and, when applied in conjunction with physiological perfusion imaging, may be utilized to predict and evaluate clinical outcomes in the setting of ischemic heart disease or PVD. This review discusses the developing radiotracer-based imaging techniques and technology currently in use that possess potential for clinical translation, with specific focus on PET and SPECT imaging of myocardial and peripheral angiogenesis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, Dana-3, P.O. Box 208017, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Mitchel R
MR
Stacy
Jin Chul
JC
Paeng
Albert J
AJ
Sinusas
D000818:Animals; D005121:Extremities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals