Radiopharmaceuticals for Cardiac PET Imaging

Cardiac PET tracers currently consists of two perfusion tracers and one metabolic agent. The most common PET radiopharmaceutical, 82Rb (Rubidium), is a generator-derived radiopharmaceutical, with excellent blood flow characteristics and low radiation, making it suitable for most clinical practices. An alternative to 82Rb is 13N-ammonia, which requires a close proximity cyclotron and is now available in a smaller more practical size and has excellent imaging characteristics. 18F2-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F FDG) is an excellent glucose tracer used for metabolic and infection/inflammation and viability imaging. New F-18 PET tracers such as F-18 flurpiridaz may greatly expand cardiac PET availability due to their longer half life and therefore more accessiblity.