Segmental and global left ventricular function assessment using gated SPECT with a semiconductor Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) camera: phantom study and clinical validation vs cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: We evaluated gated-SPECT using a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) camera for assessing global and regional left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods: A phantom study evaluated the accuracy of wall thickening assessment using systolic count increase on both Anger and CZT (Discovery 530NMc) cameras. The refillable phantom simulated variable myocardial wall thicknesses. The apparent count increase (%CI) was compared to the thickness increase (%Th). CZT gated-SPECT was compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in 27 patients. Global and regional LV function (wall thickening and motion) were quantified and compared between SPECT and CMR data.

Results: In the phantom study using a 5-mm object, the regression between %CI and %Th was significantly closer to the line of identity (y = x) with the CZT (R (2) = 0.9955) than the Anger (R (2) = 0.9995, P = .03). There was a weaker correlation for larger objects (P = .003). In patients, there was a high concordance between CZT and CMR for ESV, EDV, and LVEF (all CCC >0.80, P < .001). CZT underestimated %CI and wall motion (WM) compared to CMR (P < .001). The agreement to CMR was better for WM than wall thickening.

Conclusion: The Discovery 530NMc provided accurate measurements of global LV function but underestimated regional wall thickening, especially in patients with increased wall thickness.