Cardiac CT, PET, and MR

The standard procedure for defining the anatomic extent andseverity of coronary artery disease is catheter-based selectivecoronary angiography. While there are advantages to coronaryangiography, it is invasive with some risk of complications andrequires a brief period of hospitalization, making it relativelyexpensive. Cardiac CT, PET and MR is a completetechnique-oriented reference, offering real alternatives to the“standard procedure”. Non-invasive techniques of coronary artery lumen imaging, suchas multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonanceimaging (CMR) as well as complementary and at times more usefulphysiologic and/or metabolic imaging techniques provided bypositron emission tomography (PET) are clearly detailed throughoutthis book. Cardiac CT, PET and MR therefore provides an excellentreference for all cardiologists, radiologists, and nuclear medicinephysicians involved in the diagnosis and risk assessment ofpatients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. With the advent of these non-invasive techniques, the future ofinvasive coronary angiography will be reserved primarily fortherapeutic rather than diagnostic purposes. Accordingly, this bookprovides a unique and essential contribution to the developingfield for both physicians and students.