Current status of radionuclide imaging in the management and evaluation of patients with cardiovascular disease.

The current status of radionuclide imaging in the patients with cardiac disease has been reviewed. Currently it is possible to detect acute myocardial infarction, exercise-induced or spontaneous myocardial ischemia and ventricular function during rest or exercise in a relatively noninvasive manner. The recent development of mobile computer/camera systems opened the possibility for the study and evaluation of critically ill patients. Further developments of techniques and instrumentation can be expected in the near future.