Rubidium-81: A New Myocardial Scanning Agent

Abstract

Noninvasive regional myocardial perfusion scanning at both rest and exercise was accomplished in one normal and 14 abnormal patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease using 81Rb and a rectilinear scanner. All images were of diagnostic quality and compared favorably with either previous 43K scans or arteriograms obtained in 11 of the 14 patients. Rubidium-81 appears to be an excellent radionuclide for myocardial imaging.