Is there a role for cardiac positron emission tomography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Coronary microvascular dysfunction and, its functional consequence, myocardial ischemia are common pathologic features in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Both have been commonly invoked as potential triggers of and/or contributors to the underlying pathophysiological processes leading to heart failure, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Positron emission tomography (PET) with myocardial blood flow quantification provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the integrity and function of the coronary microcirculation in HCM. The purpose of the present review is to summarize all the pertinent literature and future perspectives of the role of PET in the evaluation and risk stratification of patients with HCM.