Functional Information in Coronary Artery Disease: The Case of Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review methodological and logistical aspects of CT myocardial perfusion, current clinical evidence and possible future directions, with specific focus on use in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

RECENT FINDINGS: CT myocardial perfusion imaging may be performed as an add-on to standard coronary CT angiography (CCTA), to identify regions of myocardial hypoperfusion, at rest and during adenosine stress. The principle of measurement is well-validated in animal experimental models, and CT myocardial perfusion imaging has a high degree of concordance with already clinically available perfusion imaging methods. Combining CCTA and CT myocardial perfusion imaging increases the diagnostic accuracy to identify patients with CAD associated with ischemia. In patients suspected of CAD, CCTA frequently detects coronary atherosclerotic lesions, in which revascularization could be clinically beneficial. CT myocardial perfusion imaging may be helpful to identify coronary lesions associated with myocardial ischemia, and thus potentially suitable for coronary intervention.