Role of PET-CT in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

AIM: Role of PET-CT in assessment of myocardial viability in patients with LV dysfunction. METHODS: This prospective study included 120 patients with LV dysfunction who underwent 99mTechnetium-Sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT-CT and 18FFDG cardiac PET-CT. They also underwent serial echocardiography and coronary angiography along with myocardial perfusion and FDG PET study. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had single vessel disease, 48 had triple vessel disease, and rest had double vessel disease. Among 786 segments, matched defects were seen in 432 (55%) and mismatched defects in 354 (45%) segments. 78 patients were surgically managed, and 42 were medically managed. The change in LVEF after surgical management was statistically significant compared to medical management. CONCLUSION: Viability assessment should be performed in patients who present after 12 h of acute myocardial infarction or with LV dysfunction due to ischemic heart disease to decide upon appropriate surgical management.