Noninvasive radionuclide assessment of right ventricular performance in man.

This chapter focuses on the application of radionuclide angiocardiography to assessment of 
right ventricular ejection fraction and the relationship between right and left 
heart performance demonstrated by this technique. Prior to discussion of the 
clinical applications, the functional geometry of the two ventricles will be 
reviewed. In addition, the first-pass radiotracer techniques will be compared to 
other radionuclide imaging approaches of the right heart. First-pass radionuclide angiocardiographic 
techniques are now suitable for clinical application. They have been validated 
and standardized and can be relied upon for accurate, reproducible noninvasive 
assessment of right and left ventricular performance. They already have been 
applied to the study of patients with cardiopulmonary disease; future directions 
will include earlier evaluation of myocardial infarction, application to children and 
adults with a variety of congenital cardiac abnormalities (primarily those affecting 
the right heart), and assessment of the effects of physiologic stress 
upon right ventricular function. With this background valuable clinical and investigative 
insights should become available during the coming years. 