Radionuclide Evaluation of Ventricular Performance in Congestive Heart Failure: An Overview

The radionuclide assessment of ventricular performance provides relevant data concerning global and regional systolic and diastolic function, and right as well as left ventricular function. In addition, assessment may be made under varying conditions such as exercise or pharmacologic intervention, and technology has been miniaturized such that ambulatory patients can be evaluated during routine activity. This review will address radionuclide cardiologic techniques for evaluating ventricular performance and focus specifically on their applicability to the clinical and investigative study of congestive heart failure.