Cardiac myocardial perfusion imaging using dual source computed tomography

The ability to simultaneously visualize both coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial perfusion may enable the assessment of the anatomical burden and physiological significance of coronary lesions in a single exam. In this paper we introduce a novel use of the dual source CT: pharmacologically induced stress myocardial perfusion imaging, (SP-DSCT). We describe an experimental protocol by which we used the DSCT to assess both stress and rest myocardial perfusion in order to identify areas of infarcted and ischemic myocardium. Based on our initial investigations, this protocol is feasible and can be used to identify hemodynamically significant stenosis. Nevertheless, further studies are required to determine the incremental value of this technique to traditional coronary CT angiography and/or nuclear stress myocardial perfusion imaging.