A historical perspective on measurement of ventricular function with scintigraphic techniques: Part II-Ventricular function with gated techniques for blood pool and perfusion imaging

ConclusionIn this 2-part article, we have tracked the development of nuclear cardiology from its rudimentary but inventive beginnings to its current, somewhat unenviable position at the pinnacle of all diagnostic and prognostic imaging in our health care system. The tools have changed, but the goal has essentially been constant. For all of its biochemical, endovascular, valvular, and neural complexity, the heart is ultimately and simplistically still just a hydraulic pump. Thus any relevant cardiac imaging modality or therapy will begin with, parallel, target, or end with the assessment of cardiac function. As nuclear cardiology moves into the future with multimodality image integration (eg, hybrid imaging with SPECT or positron emission tomography perfusion and computed tomography calcium scoring and angiography), dynamic assessment of ventricular function will predictably be a critical ingredient to the clinical success of these new modalities.