Improved detection of viable myocardium with fluorodeoxyglucose-labeled single-photon emission computed tomography in a patient with hibernating myocardium: Comparison with rest-redistribution thallium 201-labeled single-photon emission computed tomography

The findings presented in this patient support the concept of “hibernation” as first described by Rahimtoola5. Coronary revascularization resulted in recovery of both regional perfusion and regional and global ventricular function in this patient that was accompanied by improvement in functional status. At present, many techniques are available for the identification of myocardial viability.4 In this case we demonstrated that FDG SPECT was able to identify viability and predict functional recovery after revascularization that was underestimated by rest-redistribution 201Tl imaging.