Quantifying cardiac sympathetic denervation: first studies of F-fluorohydroxyphenethylguanidines in cardiomyopathy patients.

Purpose: 4-F-Fluoro-m-hydroxyphenethylguanidine (F-4F-MHPG) and 3-F-fluoro-p-hydroxyphenethylguanidine (F-3F-PHPG) were developed for quantifying regional cardiac sympathetic nerve density using tracer kinetic analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate their performance in cardiomyopathy patients.

Methods: Eight cardiomyopathy patients were scanned with F-4F-MHPG and F-3F-PHPG.

Use of 55 PET radiotracers under approval of a Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC).

Background: In the US, EU and elsewhere, basic clinical research studies with positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers that are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) can often be conducted under institutional approval. For example, in the United States, such research is conducted under the oversight of a Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC) as long as certain requirements are met. Firstly, the research must be for basic science and cannot be intended for immediate therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, or to determine the safety and effectiveness of the PET radiotracer.

Initial clinical experience of N13-ammonia myocardial perfusion PET/CT using a compact superconducting production system.

Background: Although N13-ammonia has favorable properties among FDA approved radiotracers, complexity of implementation has limited its use. We describe the initial patient experience of N13-ammonia PET imaging using a compact N13-ammonia production system.

Methods: N13 was produced using the ION-12SC, a 12MeV, 10uA superconducting minimally shielded cyclotron, and reduced to N13-ammonia in an automated multi-use purification unit.

An automated analysis program for the evaluation of cardiac PET studies: initial results in the detection and localization of coronary artery disease using nitrogen-13-ammonia.

Positron emission tomography (PET), in combination with myocardial blood flow tracers, allows highly accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease using visual data interpretation. To increase the objectivity of data analysis and to reduce interobserver variability, we developed an automated analysis method for the three-dimensional definition of myocardial activity, which includes true volumetric data extraction and mathematical constraints of activity sampling to the expected shape of the left ventricle. Data are displayed in a standardized polar map or three-dimensional format for comparison with a normal database.