The perfusable tissue index: A marker of myocardial viability

Conclusion PTI is a promising technique for detecting viable myocardium. The need for a PET scanner, an onsite cyclotron, and expertise regarding the production and administration of O-15-labeled water and carbon monoxide results in a tool that is only available in a limited number of centers worldwide. Consequently, studies reporting on the accuracy of PTI as a viability marker are limited. However, it is worthwhile to explore the value of PTI further, taking into account the clinical importance of detecting viability. In addition, with the increasing number of PET scanners and onsite cyclotrons, this technique will most likely become more accessible in the future. Finally, PTI can be obtained in less than an hour (30–45 minutes), and radiation burden is low compared with other nuclear medicine procedures such as FDG and thallium imaging. Future studies comparing PTI directly with other established techniques for assessing viable myocardium are needed to gain more insight into the clinical value of PTI.