Advances in cardiac processing software.

New software methods that incorporate iterative reconstruction, resolution recovery, and noise compensation now provide the ability to maintain or improve myocardial perfusion SPECT image quality with conventional sodium iodide cameras. Despite lower image counting statistics associated with significantly decreased injected radiopharmaceutical doses or shortened acquisition times or both, image quality is preserved or even improved compared with conventional processing methods. The ability to prescribe a desired myocardial count density by preselecting a SPECT acquisition time now avoids additional patient radiation exposure associated with "weight-based" dosing.

Delayed imaging and additional methods to reduce subdiaphragmatic activity in myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

Compton scatter from radiotracer in structures close to the heart may partially or completely mask myocardial perfusion defects on SPECT imaging. Previous reports have discussed benefits of additional delayed imaging. We present a case in which additional delayed stress imaging reduced Compton scatter and unveiled clinically significant, stress-induced ischemia.

Varices: A potential pitfall in gastrointestinal bleeding scan interpretation.

Gastrointestinal bleeding scans are extremely useful for localizing the source of gastrointestinal bleeding before interventional radiology procedures. It is essential that physicians understand the numerous possible pitfalls when interpreting these scans. Understanding the potential causes of false-positive scan interpretation eliminates unnecessary procedures for the patient and minimizes costs.

Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting as a toxic nodule by I-123 scintigraphy.

The risk of malignancy in a "hot" thyroid nodule detected by radioiodine scintigraphy is rare. We report a case of a 63-year-old man with a hyperfunctioning nodule demonstrated by radioiodine scintigraphy and cytology suspicious for follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC). There were no locoregional or distant metastases at initial diagnosis.