Cardiac PET Intensive Virtual Workshop (January 11-12, 2025)-How to Integrate Coronary Artery Calcium Quantification in the PET MPI Report

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the integration of coronary calcium quantification into PET perfusion reports. They begin by highlighting the value of PET scans for evaluating patients with ischemic heart disease, including the assessment of perfusion defects, ejection fraction, calcium score, and quantitative blood flow. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using CT scans to enhance assessments of patients with unknown coronary artery disease, including the semi-quantitative assessment of calcium score from CT transmission scans.<br /><br />They mention a study showing good agreement between formal Agatston score obtained through gated cardiac CT and the semi-quantitative visual calcium score from non-gated CT transmission scans. The presence and severity of coronary calcification are then linked to obstructive coronary disease.<br /><br />The speaker presents several patient cases to illustrate different scenarios and how the integration of calcium and flow information can inform risk assessment and guide patient management. They discuss the complementary risk stratification between calcium and perfusion imaging and how this information can enhance the identification of patients at higher risk of adverse events. The speaker also highlights the relevance of calcium information in guiding more aggressive management of underlying coronary atherosclerosis.<br /><br />In conclusion, the speaker emphasizes that calcium information provides important diagnostic, prognostic, and management-related insights for coronary disease. They recommend routine inclusion of calcium scoring in PET-CT imaging exams and stress the value of quantitative flow assessment in interpreting and making actionable reports based on the often discrepant information between calcium and perfusion defects.

Keywords

coronary calcium quantification

PET perfusion reports

ischemic heart disease

calcium score

risk stratification

coronary atherosclerosis