title: Cardiovascular preclinical imaging.
abstract: Non-invasive imaging in the form of single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT), positron-emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a very useful tool for cardiovascular research as it allows assessment of biological processes in vivo. Nuclear imaging with SPECT and PET offers the advantage of high sensitivity, the potential for serial imaging, and reliable quantification. Currently a wide range of established as well as innovative agents is available and can be imaged with dedicated preclinical and clinical SPECT and PET imaging systems. These scanners can be equipped with CT and MRI components to form hybrid imaging systems. This review provides an outline on SPECT and PET as capable tools for translational research in cardiology as part of a workflow similar to the one used in clinical imaging illustrating the concept "from bench to bedside".
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University, Munich, Germany - stephan.nekolla@tum.de.
authors.forename: Stephan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nekolla
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rischpler
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paschali
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans