Cor Vasa 2010, 52(9):513-522 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2010.138

Advances in myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function imaging using single photon emission tomography

Milan Kamínek^1,*, Iva Metelková¹, Miroslava Budíková¹, Otto Lang²

¹ Klinika nukleární medicíny, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc a Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého, Olomouc

² Klinika nukleární medicíny, Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady a 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a Centrum nukleární medicíny, s. r. o., Praha, Česká republika

This article is a review of recent progress in stress myocardial perfusion imaging using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This examination provides effective and cost-effective diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, in the detection of ischemia in patients after coronary revascularization, and in viability assessment. ECG-gated SPECT examination is a current standard which makes the evaluation of left ventricular myocardial perfusion and function possible. Quantification of the extent and severity of perfusion defects by means of a summed stress and difference scores provides important information for decisions concerning further therapy. The risk of cardiac death is low (< 1% annually) in patients with normal perfusion or in the case of mildly abnormal perfusion and normal post-stress left ventricular function; drug therapy can be given preference in such cases. On the contrary, invasive strategy is preferred in patients with extensive ischemia or post-stress left ventricular stunning. New reconstruction software and new SPECT cameras enable significant reduction of acquisition time, cost and radiation burden.

Keywords: Myocardial perfusion; Quantitative gated SPECT; Coronary artery disease; Risk stratification

Published: September 1, 2010  Show citation