Cardiovascular ImagingFluorine 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose
(FDG), metabolic tracer used for
PET imaging of the
myocardium. It is a glucose analogue which mimics glucose in the hexokinase reaction in
myocardial and other cells. After phosphorylation, fluorine 18 FDG does not participate in further metabolism and is trapped in the
myocardial cells. Glucose uptake and utilization is increased in
ischaemic but viable
myocardial cells. In
ischaemic heart disease, this tracer shows high concentration in hypoperfused
myocardial regions which are viable. For irreversibly injured
myocardium distribution of FDG and
perfusion tracer are decreased proportionately. A mismatch pattern of
perfusion markers relative to FDG identifies viable
ischaemic myocardium.
CBH