GATED MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION SPECT FORDIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTSWITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

摘要

The application of cost-effective strategies for the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is a key issue in the practice of cardiology today. Although medical and surgical therapies have led to an overall decrease in mortality from acute coronary events since the 1960s,1 myocardial infarction (MI) remains the leading cause of death in the United States.2 Significantly, 50% of men and 63% of women dying suddenly from acute coronary events have not previously been identified as having CAD.2 At the same time, many patients with clear signs and symptoms of CAD do not go on to experience acute coronary events.