Assessment of CAD through nuclear imaging in patients with AAA

This monograph describes the importance of nuclear imaging techniques in the management of patients suffering from abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Nuclear imaging techniques have an important role in determining of the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and these investigations are very valuable in the assessment of the extent of this condition in the patients suffering of AAA. The results of the cardiac nuclear examination may allow to stratify the risk of adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing surgery for this condition. The incidence of AAA is increasing, particularly in the western countries, and these patients also have a high incidence of cardiac disease. Preoperative evalutation with nuclear imaging techniques to establish the presence and the extent of CAD before elective AAA interventions help avoiding an adverse outcome related to cardiac complications. This study describes original research which has been conducted at the Isotope Scanning Unit of the Royal Infirmary in Stoke-on-Trent (UK). The current literature on the subject is reviewed, and the basis of these imaging techniques are also described.