Risk stratification with attenuation corrected stress Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in the absence of ECG-gating due to arrhythmias.

Background: Despite growing recognition of attenuation correction (AC) utilizing an external radiation source, prognostic studies using AC are lacking.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 419) who underwent stress Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging with AC but without ECG-gating, due to arrhythmia, were followed for cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). A 17-segment model and the summed stress score (SSS) were used to classify both the non-AC and AC images.

Validation of attenuation correction using transmission truncation compensation with a small field of view dedicated cardiac SPECT camera system.

Background: Although attenuation correction (AC) has been successfully applied to large field of view (LFOV) cameras, applicability to small field of view (SFOV) cameras is a concern due to truncation. This study compared perfusion images between a LFOV and SFOV camera with truncation compensation, using the same AC solution.

Methods And Results: Seventy-eight clinically referred patients underwent rest-stress single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using both a SFOV and LFOV camera in a randomized sequence.

Symptom-limited exercise combined with dipyridamole stress: prognostic value in assessment of known or suspected coronary artery disease by use of gated SPECT imaging.

Background: Combining vasodilator and exercise stress reduces noncardiac side effects, improves image quality, and enhances the detection of ischemia, compared with suboptimal exercise or vasodilator stress alone. However, prognostic data with combined protocols are limited.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients (n = 2064) who underwent symptom-limited exercise and dipyridamole stress with gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, without early revascularization, were studied.

Single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions, creating a large population of people at increased risk for cardiac events. Single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) provides an effective tool to accurately diagnose and risk stratify patients with diabetes, similar to patients without diabetes. Diabetics, however, are at increased risk for coronary events.