What type of imaging is performed first during viability studies for heart function?

In viability studies for heart function, perfusion imaging is typically performed first because it directly assesses blood flow to the heart muscle. This is critical for evaluating whether areas of the myocardium (heart muscle) are viable and receiving adequate blood supply.

Perfusion imaging techniques, such as PET or SPECT, provide information on how well blood is circulating through the heart, which is essential for identifying regions that are ischemic or damaged due to reduced blood flow. These insights are crucial for determining the potential for therapeutic interventions and the overall prognosis of patients with heart disease.

Other imaging modalities, such as CT scanning, functional MRI, and X-ray imaging, do not provide the specific functional information regarding blood flow and tissue viability that is foundational in assessing heart function in the context of viability studies. While each of these imaging techniques has its own advantages and applications, they do not focus specifically on perfusion and viability in the same direct way that perfusion imaging does.