Added value of CT myocardial perfusion imaging

Multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) has become an accurate, noninvasive test for the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis. Studies have established a good sensitivity and an excellent negative predictive value for the diagnosis of coronary stenoses of 50% or greater severity. However, MDCTA is more limited in patients with disease with a lower specificity and positive predictive value for predicting atherosclerosis causing myocardial ischemia. Although radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has been the mainstay for evaluating the presence of myocardial ischemia and scar in patients at risk for coronary artery disease, contrast-enhanced multidetector CT (MDCT) alone, with or without vasodilator stress, has the potential to provide both anatomical and functional information on coronary atherosclerosis and its impact on myocardial perfusion. We review the current status of MDCT MPI, including its advantages, limitations, and pitfalls.