Positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the heart focus on evaluation of myocardial blood flow and metabolism.1 These measurements must frequently be correlated with changes in left ventricular (LV) contraction to delineate myocardial viability fully.2 Usually, this requires assessment of myocardial contraction using a different imaging modality; however, this information may be obtained at a different time and in different planes from the PET studies. In segments displaying impaired contraction, the preservation of glucose metabolism is a marker of jeopardised but viable myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease.

We describe a pilot study using ECG gated PET with¹⁸F-flourodeoxyglucose (FDG) to detect segments with reduced wall thickening. Wall thickening is compared to ECG gated cine-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is well validated for the assessment of myocardial motion and thickening in patients with normal and impaired LV contraction.3

The study population comprised nine patients (all men) with ischaemic heart disease and LV impairment, from angiography. Their mean age was 62 years (range 42–75 years).

Cine-MR images were obtained in the short axis, positioned using the end systolic long axis view as the frame of reference. Acquisitions were synchronised to the ECG, using the R wave as a trigger. Seven cardiac phases were obtained with a frame separation of 80 ms. …