Heart failure remains a highly prevalent disease with significant morbidity
and mortality. Millions of patients are affected worldwide and their treatment is
associated with a significant cost for the healthcare systems, especially in developed
countries. In approximately two-third of the cases, ischemic heart disease is the cause
of the syndrome. Therefore, myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed
tomography (SPECT) imaging is a key element in the diagnostic investigation,
prognostication, and management of patients with heart failure. Perfusion images are
obtained according to various well-established protocols, after the administration of
either thallium-201 or technetium-99m labelled radiotracers in combination with
several stress techniques. In the future, technological innovations and improvements of
reconstruction methods are expected to strengthen the role of myocardial perfusion
SPECT imaging as a useful tool for the investigation of heart failure and patient’s
management.
Keywords: Adenosine, Dipyridamole, Dobutamine, Exercise testing, Heart
failure, Myocardial ischemia, Myocardial perfusion, Technetium-99m sestamibi,
Technetium-99m tetrofosmin, Thallium-201, Regadenoson.
