Autoradiographic study of the 133Xenon disappearance method for measurement of myocardial blood flow

Abstract

Myocardial blood flow studied in canine hearts by the ¹³³Xe disappearance method was better estimated by utilizing the initial portion of the disappearance curve than by 'curve-peeling'. Macroautoradiography demonstrated that radioactivity was located primarily in myocardium during the early portion of the curve, but in epicardial fat later. The method is incapable of detecting areas of reduced flow which can be demonstrated autoradiographically.