This lecture provides a practical overview of cardiac and major vascular anatomy as encountered on PET/CT imaging. It covers the cardiac chambers, pulmonary and systemic vessels, coronary arteries, and major branches of the thoracic aorta, emphasizing their anatomical relationships and identification on cross-sectional images. Normal variants, physiological myocardial FDG uptake, and potential imaging pitfalls are discussed. The lecture also introduces key lymphatic structures, including the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Identify the cardiac chambers, myocardial structures, and major thoracic vessels on PET/CT images.
• Recognize the coronary arteries, pulmonary veins, and major branches of the aortic arch.
• Describe physiological myocardial FDG uptake patterns and distinguish normal anatomical structures and variants from potential pathology.
• Locate important thoracic lymphatic structures, including the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct.