Adding functional imaging to structural imaging of patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) has the potential to improve current VT ablation strategies, according to new research from the University of Maryland.

In the study, researchers followed 15 patients who were scheduled for ablation for VT. Each patient underwent imaging with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and MRI, as well as high-resolution bipolar voltage mapping. These three mapping tools assessed various adaptations found in VT — abnormal innervation, tissue scarring, and low-voltage area. In all cases, the VT site of origin was localized to areas of the tissue with abnormal innervation and MRI scar, identifying an area of abnormal tissue that is likely to be an appropriate target for VT ablation.

“Results from this study show that nuclear medicine can be used to develop novel, cutting-edge strategies for risk stratification and arrhythmia treatment,” said Timm Dickfeld, M.D., director of electrophysiology research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The research was published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (http://dx.doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.118.211698).