Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy during chest pain: An atypical presentation of takotsubo cardiomyopathy?

Although Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) knowledge is increasing, the exact pathophysiology remains unclear. TCM represents 1%-2% of all troponin positive acute coronary syndromes, affects predominantly postmenopausal women, and is commonly preceded by exposure to severe physical or emotional stress. Transient wall motion abnormalities mimicking ST-elevation myocardial infarction is expected as well as increase of troponin levels and echocardiography alterations.

Applicability of the Appropriate use Criteria for Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy.

Background: Appropriateness Criteria for nuclear imaging exams were created by American College of Cardiology (ACC) e American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) to allow the rational use of tests. Little is known whether these criteria have been followed in clinical practice. Objective: To evaluate whether the medical applications of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in a private nuclear medicine service of a tertiary cardiology hospital were suitable to the criteria of indications proposed by the American medical societies in 2005 and 2009 and compare the level of indication of both.

Effects of short-term carvedilol on the cardiac sympathetic activity assessed by 123I-MIBG scintigraphy.

Background: Autonomic alterations in heart failure are associated with an increase in morbimortality. Several noninvasive methods have been employed to evaluate the sympathetic function, including the Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy imaging of the heart.

Objective: to evaluate the cardiac sympathetic activity through 123I-MIBG scintigraphy, before and after three months of carvedilol therapy in patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45%.

Prevalence of induced ischemia by mental distress.

Background: The myocardial radionuclide imaging with mental distress seems to induce ischemia through a particular physiopathology when compared to radionuclide imaging with physical or pharmacological distress.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of induced myocardial ischemia by mental distress in patients with thoracic pain and radionuclide imaging with normal conventional distress, with 99mTc-Sestamibi.

Methods: Twenty-two patients were admitted with thoracic pain at emergency or were referred to the nuclear medicine service of our institution, where myocardial radionuclide imaging of distress or rest without ischemic alterations was carried out.

Medium term prognostic value of stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in a chest pain unit.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) applied to patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Retrospective study. Patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted into the chest pain unit (CPU) from December 2002 to April 2004, after exclusion of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and high risk unstable angina they underwent stress MPS.

[Clinical impact of positron emission tomography by coincidence system with 18F-FDG on therapeutic decision-making of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy after myocardial infarction].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the myocardium viability study by coincidence imaging using 18F-FDG in the clinical decision-making of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: Thirty-one patients were submitted to myocardial viability study with 18F-FDG by coincidence imaging between September 2003 and November 2004. The physician answered a questionnaire about the choice of therapeutic procedure before and after PET.