Molecular Imaging Insight - March 2008 - (Page 8) by L i s a F r at t PET/CT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging N-ammonia, an established imaging probe for measuring myocardial perfusion, has now been made available for use in the community. This has thus far been difficult because of the short half-life of 13Nammonia of about 10 minutes. But even that time factor has been worked out. 13 Quality imaging There are economic benefits to ammonia MPI, but at Premier PET Imaging, economics is secondary to patient care. “The benefits to the patient are three-fold. It’s a much quicker, more convenient, and a higher image quality scan than traditional nuclear stress testing,” says Miller. The other PET-based option uses Rb82 as a tracer, and allows no time between stress testing and the PET scan. With ammonia, the patient has about five minutes to recover from stress prior to the PET scan. The five-minute recovMolecularImaging.net Molecular Imaging Insight | March 2008 PET/CT images. Source: Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany P ETNET Solutions, a Siemens Medical Solutions company, recently expanded its offerings and opened the door to myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with 13N-ammonia. The new option enables facilities without access to an onsite cyclotron to offer the cardiac scan. The patient benefits are significant as perfusion imaging with ammonia is a shorter and more convenient stress study than a traditional nuclear cardiac test. In addition, the superior spatial resolution of PET results in fewer equivocal studies. It enables the quantification of perfusion and determination of coronary flow reserve, allowing for high sensitivity and predictive value in coronary artery disease detection and small vessel disease. Premier PET Imaging of Jacksonville, Fla., the first center in the nation to offer “off-site” MPI with ammonia, started its MPI program in August 2006. The new service erases previous time and logistics barriers to MPI. “Prior to the PETNET program, the only option for PET centers to offer perfusion imaging required the use of rubidium-82 (82Rb) as a tracer. Unfortunately, 82Rb is an unrealistic option for many sites,” says Darren Mill- er, chief technical advisor. That’s because Rb-82 carries substantial initial costs in the form of an onsite Rb-82 generator. Without an established referral base, these purchases represent risky business. “PET centers can’t rely on a ‘build it and they will come’ business strategy,” continues Miller, “The PETNET Solutions ammonia program allows a center to start an MPI program at its own pace without large out-of-pocket costs.” The program is a perfect match for this Jacksonville center which is committed to bringing imaging services on par with those offered in the university setting to the private sector, says Medical Director Michael Fagien, MD. http://MolecularImaging.net
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