How does Nuclear imaging work for imaging the heart?

use radiotracers which are extracted by normal myocardium

What is the role of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Cardiac imaging?

to assess myocardial perfusion and myocardial viability

What isotope is used in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography?

technetium-99m with the ligand methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) (technetium (99mTc))

How can Cardiac Computed Tomography be useful for assessing suspected ischaemic heart disease?

• calcium score: there is known to be a correlation between the amount of atherosclerotic plaque calcium and the risk of future ischaemic events. Cardiac CT can quantify the amount of calcium producing a 'calcium score'
• contrast enhanced CT: allows visualisation of the coronary artery lumen

What is the role of Cardiac MRI?

the gold standard for providing structural images of the heart. It is particularly useful when assessing congenital heart disease, determining right and left ventricular mass and differentiating forms of cardiomyopathy