Is cardiac MRI adenosine stress perfusion imaging a more appropriate diagnostic tool for obese patients?

Background Cardiac nuclear stress perfusion imaging is subject to artifact related to obesity, breast attenuation and diaphragm overlap. These factors are responsible for “false positive” results among patients undergoing evaluation for coronary atherosclerosis, leading to potentially unnecessary invasive coronary arteriography. Cardiac MRI adenosine stress perfusion imaging is unaffected by both obesity and breast tissue attenuation, resulting in sensitivity and specificity rates in excess of 90%. Accordingly, cardiac MRI adenosine stress perfusion imaging may be a more appropriate form of testing for obese patients.