Myocardial perfusion imaging for the detection of coronary artery disease in patients with known or suspected disease

Detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) is essential for assessment of prognosis and decisions regarding optimal management in patients with suspected or known disease. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an appropriate diagnostic technique as it enables simultaneous evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function. The technique is recommended as a first-line investigation in patients at intermediate or high risk of CAD, and as a second-line investigation in addition to conventional stress exercise testing in patients at low risk of CAD. The use of gated single photon emission computed tomography (gated-SPECT) perfusion imaging enhances detection of CAD and provides additional prognostic information. This procedure is likely to be the method of choice in the future.