Emerging F-18-Labelled PET Myocardial Perfusion Tracers.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an established modality for the evaluation of ischemic heart disease and quantitation of myocardial blood flow (MBF). New F-18-labelled radiopharmaceuticals have been recently developed to overcome some of the limitations of currently used tracers such as the need of an on-site cyclotron. The characteristics of the new tracers and the clinical results obtained so far will be reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most of the interest in the field of F-labelled radiotracers for PET MPI has been concentrated on MC-1 inhibitors, the prototype of which is F-flurpiridaz. It was shown in experimental and clinical reports that these radiotracers allow good quality rest/stress MPI studies and a reliable quantitation of MBF. Recent evidence suggests that PET MPI with F-flurpiridaz may provide a superior diagnostic accuracy for obstructive CAD even if a large comparative clinical trial with SPECT is still ongoing.