Effectiveness Study of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Versus Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Clinical Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Stress Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Imaging as a Guide to Management of Patients With Known CAD: Comparison of Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

The purpose of this study is to compare pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion PET with pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion SPECT in a near-simultaneous, head-to-head comparison in the same patient. The investigators hypothesize that pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion PET will prove superior to pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion SPECT as a first-line diagnostic test for higher-risk patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) who present with symptoms consistent with possible worsening of their CAD.

Inclusion Criteria:

• History of coronary artery disease
• New or worsening symptoms
• Out-patients and in-hospital patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• Creatinine above 2.5 mg%
• PCI within prior 6 months
• Pregnant females
• Cardiomyopathy (LVEF below 40%)
• Significant valvular heart disease
• Body mass index greater than 38