Validation of Combined PET-MR Quantitative Parameters for Cardiac Applications

Validation of Combined PET-MR Quantitative Parameters for Cardiac Applications

The purpose of this study is to understand how simultaneous PET/MR acquisition can provide novel qualitative and quantitative biomarkers to guide clinical intervention and predict prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease.

• To compare regional myocardial uptake of FDG on images obtained on a standard PET camera with the new PET/MR camera, in patients with coronary artery disease.
• To compare viability maps obtained with cardiac MR images and FDG-PET for delineation of myocardial infarct core and border zone, in patients with coronary artery disease.
• To correlate MRI myocardial strain with relative myocardial FDG uptake in patients with a previous myocardial infarction.
• To interrogate if simultaneous acquisition of cardiac PET and viability cardiac MR differ from acquisitions obtained independently, with special focus on attenuation correction methods
• To combined MRI scar map with FDG-PET uptake in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis and myocarditis.
• To correlate morphologic characteristics of atherosclerotic disease in the thoracic and abdominal aorta with FDG uptake and ferumoxytol enhancement, as a marker of inflammation.
• To evaluate cardiac strain and myocardial scar burden in obese patients with and without diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiac disease referred for cardiac PET for viability imaging.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications for MRI, including cardiac pacemaker, claustrophobia, retained metallic foreign body, cochlear implant, Aneurysm clip in the brain, pregnancy and eGFR less than 45%.