Myocardial Positron Scintigraphy with Short-Lived 82Rb

Positron-emitting 78-sec 82Rb obtained from a 82Sr (25 day) nuclide generator is used with a multicrystal positron camera for serial non-invasive myocardial scanning. Progress in application of this generator for myocardial scintigraphy from December, 1974 to September, 1975 is reported. Physical characteristics of the generator and scanning system were examined with the aid of phantom models. Myocardial scanning was carried out in an open chest canine myocardial infarct preparation and in normal human subjects. It is concluded that positron scintigraphy with 82Rb permits rapid non-invasive assessment of regional myocardial perfusion at intervals of several minutes.