Case Studies—Cardiology

History

A 50-year-old female with a history of heart disease waiting for possible cardiac transplant.

Original Diagnosis

Thallium scintigraphy found a large nonreversible defect in anterior septal segment; the myocardium was judged nonviable.

Short axis, horizontal long axis, and vertical long axis views of the FDG PET scan of the myocardium.

PET Findings

FDG PET scan found good viability throughout the myocardium except for a small part of the apex.

Change in Treatment

The conventional treatment plan based on a single photon nuclear medicine study would have been to place the patient on the transplant waiting list. After PET, a coronary artery bypass graft was performed resulting in improved cardiac function. The patient had significant improvement in quality of life.