Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Vol.24 No.2 2008 (87-92)

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Hiroyuki Matsuura

Department of Pediatrics, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Nuclear cardiology may not be suitable for the definitive diagnosis of cardiac anatomy in patients with congenital heart diseases. Rather, it is most valuable to assess coronary perfusion and the objective diagnosis of myocardiaum viability, including ischemia and necrosis. In the field of pediatric cardiology, nulcear cardiology is more important than ever for long-term follow-up of patients with post-operative complex cogenital heart diseases and those with adult congenital heart diseases as well as Kawasaki disease. Herein, the fundamentals of myocardial scintigraphy are described in regard to the procedure and assessment of pediatrc patients.