Up to date examination protocols for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a noninvasive imaging procedure for diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease therapeutic decisions. In the last decades advances in technology, radiopharmaceuticals, pharmacologic stress testing and acquisition protocols have led to further improvement of diagnostic accuracy. This paper provides an overview of radiopharmaceuticals, stress testing protocols, acquisition strategies and recommendations for the preparation of patients for myocardial perfusion SPECT. (orig.)