Is there any advantage to the acquisition of 24-hour thallium images, in the presence of persistent perfusion defects at 4 h after reinjection?

We determined the incidence of delayed 24-h reversibility post thallium-201 reinjection and imaging at 4 h, as well as the prognostic and significance of such delayed reversibility. We studied 46 consecutive patients with persistent thallium-201 perfusion or incompletely reversible single-photon emission tomography (SPET) perfusion defects acquired within 10 min after reinjection performed 4 h after stress. In 38 of 46 patients (82%) 24-h images showed no further reversibility beyond the post-reinjection 4-h study (group A). Eight of 46 patients (17%) demonstrated reversibility on 24-h imaging (group B). Of these eight, three patients showed no improvement compared with the post-stress images, with a mean perfusion score of the abnormal segments of 1.25±0.50 on the 4-h images, and of 3.00 on the 24-h images, where normal is 4. Four patients presented with nine mixed regions. Four of these regions showed an improvement in the mean perfusion score of 2.50±0.58 on 4- and 24-h images. Two of them, with moderate/severe defects, demonstrated complete reversibility at 4-h post-reinjection imaging. In addition, five other regions presented no improvement at 4-h imaging, but showed an improvement in the mean perfusion score from 0.80±0.84 at 4-h to 3.30±0.89 at 24-h imaging. Two of these regions in one patient showed a severe perfusion score of 0 at 4 h, and complete reversibility at 24 hours, with a mean score improvement of 4. Another patient had three severe perfusion defects; two of them redistributed partially at 4 h and completely at 24 h. The remaining segment with a perfusion score of 0 at 4 h, presented complete reversibility with a score of 4 at 24 h. Two (4%) patients revealed significant reversibility at 24 h in a region that was severely underperfused after post-reinjection imaging at 4 h. Among group B patients, 75% (6/8) had recent acute ischemic syndrome, compared with only 13% (5/38) in group A (P = 0.001). Among 11 patients with unstable angina, six (55%) had evidence of delayed 24-h reversibility, compared with 2 of 35 (6%) patients without clinically acute ischemia (P = 0.001). On follow-up, there were seven (17%) cardiac deaths among the 38 group A patients but three (38%) among the eight group B patients (P = 0.3). These findings suggest that although the presence of delayed 24-h ²⁰¹Tl, post-reinjection reversibility is infrequent, it has potential clinical importance. Thus, delayed 24-h imaging should be considered in the context of unstable angina or other acute coronary syndromes. Received 17 November 1997 and in revised form 17 January 1998     

Utility of reinjection method in stress Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy to assess viability of the infarcted myocardium

To assess viability of the infarcted myocardium, we performed stress Tl-201 myocardial scintigraphy using reinjection method in 37 patients with old myocardial infarction, and in 13 patients of them, Tl myocardial imagings were performed in resting state on the other day within 4 weeks after this examination. In this method, 111 MBq (3 mCi) of thallium was injected at the peak of exercise and initial and delayed images were acquired, then additionally 37 MBq (1 mCi) of thallium was injected after delayed scanning (reinjection) and we obtained post-reinjection images. Delayed images showed redistribution in 15 patients (41%), and no redistribution in 22 patients (59%). In post-reinjection images, 7 (19%) of 15 patients with redistribution and 3 (8%) of 22 patients without redistribution showed improvement of thallium uptake, in total 10 patients (27%) had additional thallium uptake in infarcted regions. And the degree of thallium uptake in post-reinjection images were almost equal to that in resting images. In conclusion, myocardial imaging using thallium reinjection method may be useful for the assessment of viability of the infarcted myocardium.     

Attenuation correction improves the detection of viable myocardium by thallium-201 cardiac tomography in patients with previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of attenuation-corrected thallium-201 stress/redistribution/reinjection single-photon emission tomography (SPET) on the number of viable segments in patients with previous myocardial infarction and dysfunctional myocardium. Fifty-one patients with previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction were included in the study. In all patients, ²⁰¹Tl non-corrected (NC) and attenuation-corrected (AC) SPET was performed using a stress/redistribution/reinjection protocol followed by coronary angiography. A semiquantitative analysis was performed using polar maps for NC and AC stress, redistribution and reinjection short-axis and vertical long-axis (apex) slices. Severe (perfusion defect below 50%/maximal count rate: PD_<50), mild and moderate persistent defects for redistribution and reinjection were evaluated for both NC and AC studies. A total of 1581 segments were evaluated by semiquantitative segmental analysis for both NC and AC studies for each redistribution and reinjection map. In the redistribution maps, NC revealed a total of 352 segments and AC a total of 222 segments with impaired perfusion below 50% of the maximal count rate (PD_<50). The mean number of affected segments was 6.9±5.5 in the case of NC and 4.4±4.8 in the case of AC (P<0.001). In the reinjection maps, NC revealed a total of 263 non-viable segments (PD_<50) and AC a total of 169 non-viable segments. The mean number of affected segments was 5.2±5.3 in the case of NC and 3.3±4.2 in the case of AC (P<0.001). Recovery of function was better predicted by AC than by NC in 20% of patients in the follow-up group. Therefore, the use of attenuation correction influences the extent of viable segments by showing more viable segments in either redistribution or reinjection maps. ²⁰¹Tl imaging without attenuation correction may underestimate the extent of tissue viability, which may contribute to the lower sensitivity compared to fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, where attenuation correction is a routinely performed procedure. Received 26 October and in revised form 23 December 1998     

双核素心肌显像检测存活心肌的对比研究

目的 对比多巴酚丁胺负荷201Tl/静息99Tcm-甲氧基异丁基异腈(MIBI)双核素同步心肌断层显像及多巴酚丁胺负荷-再分布/再注射201Tl心肌断层显像法检测存活心肌的作用.方法 对160例临床怀疑有冠心病的患者予静息状态下静脉注射740 MBq99Tcm-MIBI,休息15 min后进行多巴酚丁胺负荷试验,在达到终止指标时静脉注射111 MSq201TICI.注射后观察5-lO min,分别行早期(10 min)、延迟(3 h)99Tcm-MIBI和201Tl双核素同步心肌断层显像.对早期负荷201Tl图像发现放射性缺损,延迟再分布201Tl和静息99Tcm-MIBI图像未见放射性填充的患者再注射37 MBq201TICI,30min后行再注射心肌灌注显像.负荷枷201Tl图像示放射性缺损,静息99Tcm-MIBI、再分布201Tl及再注射201Tl图像中发现任何一种放射性填充者均为存活心肌.断层显像后2周内全部患者进行了冠状动脉造影.采用SAS 6.12软件进行x2检验.结果 (1) 160例患者冠状动脉造影均发现冠状动脉狭窄.其中单支病变76例、双支病变5l例、三支病变33例.(2)152例多巴酚丁胺负荷201Tl图像发现放射性缺损的患者中,63例201Tl再分布和静息99Tcm-MIBI图像均发现放射性填充,5例201Tl再分布发现放射性填充而静息99Tcm-MIBI图像未见放射性填充,9例静息99Tcm-MIBI图像发现放射性填充而2001Tl再分布未见放射性填允,75例201Tl再分布和静息99Tcm-MIBI图像均未发现放射性填充,负荷201Tl-延迟再分布显像(66.0%,68/103)和负荷201Tl/静息99Tcm-MIBI显像(69.9%,72/103)鉴别存活心肌的灵敏度差异无统计学意义(x2=O.36,P>0.05).(3)75例201Tl再分布和静息99Tcm-MIBI图像均未发现放射性填充患者中,再注射201Tl显像后有26例放射性填充,再注射201Tl显像较单纯201Tl再分布或静息99Tcm-MIBI显像多检测出34.7%(26/75)患者有存活心肌.(4)8例多巴酚丁胺负荷201Tl、201Tl再分布图像和静息99Tcm-MIBI图像均未发现放射性稀疏,为假阴性,其中3例为三支冠状动脉病变,1例为双支冠状动脉病变(狭窄分别为90%及60%),3例为单支冠状动脉病变(狭窄<75%2例,85%1例),1例冠状动脉闭塞后有充分的侧枝循环.结论 多巴酚丁胺负荷-再分布/再注射201Tl心肌断层显像鉴别存活心肌优于多巴酚丁胺负荷201Tl/静息99Tcm-MIBI双核素同步心肌断层显像,是一种有效、无创的鉴别存活心肌的方法.     

Usefulness of reinjection image for evaluating viable myocardium in the infarcted zone on exercise thallium-201 SPECT

Reinjection images were obtained in 23 patients with myocardial infarction by the additional injection of 37 MBq of thallium-201 after obtaining 4 hour delayed images on exercise thallium-201 SPECT (TSPECT). A redistribution index (RI) was derived of the changes in perfusion defects between immediate and 4 hour delayed images as well as immediate and reinjection images on polar bull's eye maps. The RI of reinjection images (46 +/- 27%) was significantly greater than that of 4 hour delayed images (26 +/- 26%) in patients with myocardial infarction (p less than 0.01). Significant redistribution after reinjection occurred in 4 of 9 patients (44%) without significant redistribution on 4 hour delayed images. Improvement in redistribution on reinjection images correlated significantly to the small extent of coronary artery disease and collateral development. The appearance of redistribution from 4 hour delayed imaging to reinjection imaging also might reflect the function of collateral development in the resting state in patients without significant redistribution on 4 hour delayed images. It has been demonstrated that underestimated viable myocardium on 4 hour delayed images in the infarcted zone can be better assessed on reinjection images. This reinjection technique is recommended in patients with no or partial redistribution on 4 hour delayed images.     

Technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission tomography detects subclinical myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, involvement of the cardiovascular system is the third leading cause of death. However, although autopsy studies have demonstrated a high incidence of abnormalities in both the myocardium and coronary vessels, clinical manifestations have been reported in only a small percentage of cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial perfusion in asymptomatic lupus patients using technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission tomography (SPET). Twenty-eight patients without overt cardiac involvement and risk factors were studied with ^99mTc-sestamibi SPET at rest and after dipyridamole infusion. Perfusion abnormalities were detected in 18 cases: six had persistent defects, three had reversible defects, seven had both persistent and reversible defects, and two showed rest defects which normalized on dipyridamole images (”reverse redistribution pattern”). Coronary angiography was performed in eight patients with positive ^99mTc-sestamibi SPET, and showed normal epicardial vessels in all the cases. These results indicate that ^99mTc-sestamibi SPET reveals a high prevalence (18 out of 28 patients in this study, i.e. 64%) of myocardial perfusion abnormalities in asymptomatic lupus patients, probably due to the primary immunological damage of this autoimmune disease. In conclusion, rest/dipyridamole ^99mTc-sestamibi SPET can be a useful non-invasive method to identify subclinical myocardial involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus, and patients potentially at risk of later cardiac events. Received 20 November 1998 and in revised form 19 February 1999     

Dipyridamole and exercise SPET provide different estimates of myocardial ischaemic areas: role of the severity of coronary stenoses and of the increase in heart rate during exercise

In patients unable to perform a maximal exercise test, dipyridamole single-photon emission tomography (SPET) has a higher capacity than exercise SPET to detect coronary artery disease (CAD). However, in patients with myocardial ischaemia who are able to perform a maximal exercise test, it is not known whether these two tests may be equally used to assess the areas of myocardial ischaemia. This study was aimed at comparing the results provided by dipyridamole and exercise SPET in CAD patients with documented exercise myocardial ischaemia. Forty CAD patients who had undergone exercise thallium-201 SPET and who had myocardial ischaemia documented by an unequivocally positive exercise test underwent an additional ²⁰¹Tl SPET study after dipyridamole infusion and low-level (40 W) exercise. The extent of defects was compared between the two tests and predictors of discrepant results were sought among data from exercise testing and coronary angiography. The extent of SPET defects was equivalent between the two tests in only 11 patients (28%), larger defects being observed with exercise in 18 [average difference: 12%±5% of left ventricle (LV)] and with dipyridamole in 11 (average difference: 15%±11% of LV). The best independent predictors of discrepancies between the two tests were: (1) increase in heart rate at exercise SPET, with defects being smaller at exercise than after dipyridamole in none of the patients with an increase >60 bpm (0/14), but in 42% of the others (11/26; P=0.004); and (2) an ischaemic territory related to a <70% coronary stenosis, for which SPET defects were always induced at exercise (10/10) but in only 30% (3/10) with dipyridamole (P=0.0004). Exercise and dipyridamole SPET provide different estimates of myocardial ischaemic areas. Dipyridamole allows the unmasking of perfusion abnormalities in patients who have low increases in heart rate at exercise SPET. However, dipyridamole is also much less efficient at inducing perfusion abnormalities in the ischaemic areas supplied by coronary stenoses of intermediate severity at rest angiography. Received 20 January 2000 and in revised form 18 March 2000     

双嘧达莫负荷心肌201Tl SPECT显像诊断冠状动脉微循环障碍的价值

目的 探讨双嘧达莫负荷心肌201Tl SPECT显像在诊断冠状动脉微循环障碍中的价值.方法 选取临床符合心脏X综合征诊断标准的患者共48例,按患者体质量0.56mg/kg予双嘧达莫针剂静脉注射(4min),在心脏负荷达高峰后注入201Tl 111 MBq,10min及240min后分别进行心肌201Tl SPECT显像,原始图像经三维重建后由2位以上有经验的核医学科医师进行分析.对出现“反向再分布”现象的患者采用山莨菪碱(654-2)治疗2周后,再次进行双嘧达莫负荷心肌201TlSPECT显像,同时比较患者治疗前后临床症状和平板运动试验结果.结果 48例患者中有42例延迟(240min)显像时均显示部分心肌节段反向放射性分布稀疏或缺损,即“反向再分布”,检出阳性率为87.50％(42/48).在42例出现“反向再分布”现象的患者中,治疗后临床症状及平板运动试验结果均有改善的36例患者再次进行延迟(240min)显像时原受累的49个节段中有45个节段放射性分布有不同程度改善,检出阳性率达91.84％(45/49).两者有1项未改善或2项均未改善的6例患者延迟(240min)显像时原受累的7个节段放射性分布无改善.结论 双嘧达莫负荷心肌201Tl SPECT显像对诊断以心脏X综合征为代表的冠状动脉微循环障碍疾病有一定的价值.     

Assessment of the effect of revascularization early after CABG using ECG-gated perfusion single-photon emission tomography

When an arterial graft is used, reversible perfusion defects on single-photon emission tomography (SPET) perfusion images are occasionally observed early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), owing to the restricted flow capacity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the functional information obtained with electrocardiography (ECG)-gated perfusion SPET could be helpful in evaluating the effect of revascularization early after CABG. Twenty-three patients (18 men and 5 women, mean age 65±9 years) underwent stress/re-injection thallium-201 ECG-gated SPET before and 4 weeks after CABG (13 with exercise and 10 with dipyridamole). Patency of all grafts was confirmed by coronary angiography 1 month after CABG. Cardiac functional data including the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the transient ischaemic dilatation (TID) ratio were analysed using a commercially available automated program. The conventional stress and re-injection tomograms were interpreted by means of a five-point scoring system in a nine-segment model. Stress-induced reversible ²⁰¹Tl perfusion defects were present in 64% of the myocardial segments bypassed by patent arterial grafts, in contrast to 42% of the myocardial segments bypassed by patent venous grafts (χ²=7.8, P=0.005). Of the 23 patients, 12 showed improvement in summed ischaemic scores (group 1), while 11 had no change or deterioration (group 2), although all grafts were patent on postoperative catheterization. The TID ratio improved in both group 1 and group 2 before and after CABG (1.14±0.13 vs 0.99±0.07, P=0.001 and 1.09±0.07 vs 0.94±0.05, P=0.002, respectively). However, LVEF did not significantly improve in group 1 or group 2 after CABG (42.5%±9.9% vs 47.5%±11.8%, and 52.1%±7.5% vs 53.1%±5.9%, respectively). Perfusion imaging or LVEF assessment is of limited value early after CABG. The TID ratio obtained with ECG-gated perfusion SPET may be a useful marker to evaluate the effect of revascularization early after surgery.     

Attenuation correction improves the detection of viable myocardium by thallium-201 cardiac tomography in patients with previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of attenuation-corrected thallium-201 stress/redistribution/reinjection single-photon emission tomography (SPET) on the number of viable segments in patients with previous myocardial infarction and dysfunctional myocardium. Fifty-one patients with previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction were included in the study. In all patients, 201Tl non-corrected (NC) and attenuation-corrected (AC) SPET was performed using a stress/redistribution/reinjection protocol followed by coronary angiography. A semiquantitative analysis was performed using polar maps for NC and AC stress, redistribution and reinjection short-axis and vertical long-axis (apex) slices. Severe (perfusion defect below 50%/maximal count rate: PD < 50), mild and moderate persistent defects for redistribution and reinjection were evaluated for both NC and AC studies. A total of 1581 segments were evaluated by semiquantitative segmental analysis for both NC and AC studies for each redistribution and reinjection map. In the redistribution maps, NC revealed a total of 352 segments and AC a total of 222 segments with impaired perfusion below 50% of the maximal count rate (PD < 50). The mean number of affected segments was 6.9 +/- 5.5 in the case of NC and 4.4 +/- 4.8 in the case of AC (P < 0.001). In the reinjection maps, NC revealed a total of 263 non-viable segments (PD < 50) and AC a total of 169 non-viable segments. The mean number of affected segments was 5.2 +/- 5.3 in the case of NC and 3.3 +/- 4.2 in the case of AC (P < 0.001). Recovery of function was better predicted by AC than by NC in 20% of patients in the follow-up group. Therefore, the use of attenuation correction influences the extent of viable segments by showing more viable segments in either redistribution or reinjection maps. 201Tl imaging without attenuation correction may underestimate the extent of tissue viability, which may contribute to the lower sensitivity compared to fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, where attenuation correction is a routinely performed procedure.     

A comparison of rest sestamibi and rest-redistribution thallium single photon emission tomography: Possible implications for myocardial viability detection in infarcted patients

Thirty patients (26 men, 4 women, mean age 61 ± 8 years) who had suffered myocardial infarction 15 ± 6 months previously, were submitted to (1) standard stress-redistribution thallium-201 single photon emission tomography (SPET), (2) rest-redistribution²⁰¹Tl SPET and (3) stress-rest technetium-99m sestamibi SPET. Uptake modifications in relation to exercise-induced defects were evaluated in a total of 390 myocardial segments. Tracer uptake was scored as normal (=0), mildly reduced (=1), apparently reduced (=2), severely reduced (=3) or absent (=4). Comparison of stress studies failed to show any statistical difference (58% segmental abnormalities with sestamibi vs 61% with thallium). Uptake abnormalities (score 1–4) were detected in 55% of the segments wiliest sestamibi, 55% with standard thallium redistribution, 55% with early imaging after thallium injection at rest and 54% with 3-h delayed rest imaging (P = NS). Absence of tracer uptake (score = 4) under resting conditions was recorded in 75 (19%) segments with standard²⁰¹Tl redistribution, 75 (19%) with rest sestamibi, 70 (18%) with rest²⁰¹Tl imaging and 62 (16%) with rst-rdistruion²⁰¹Tl (P<0.05 vs other imaging modalities). Thus, 3-h delayed rest thallium imaging detected reversibility of uptake defects in a significantly higher number of myocardial segments. This finding might have important implications for both tracer and technique selection when myocardial viability is the main clinical issue.     

Dipyridamole and exercise SPET provide different estimates of myocardial ischaemic areas: role of the severity of coronary stenoses and of the increase in heart rate during exercise

In patients unable to perform a maximal exercise test, dipyridamole single-photon emission tomography (SPET) has a higher capacity than exercise SPET to detect coronary artery disease (CAD). However, in patients with myocardial ischaemia who are able to perform a maximal exercise test, it is not known whether these two tests may be equally used to assess the areas of myocardial ischaemia. This study was aimed at comparing the results provided by dipyridamole and exercise SPET in CAD patients with documented exercise myocardial ischaemia. Forty CAD patients who had undergone exercise thallium-201 SPET and who had myocardial ischaemia documented by an unequivocally positive exercise test underwent an additional 201Tl SPET study after dipyridamole infusion and low-level (40 W) exercise. The extent of defects was compared between the two tests and predictors of discrepant results were sought among data from exercise testing and coronary angiography. The extent of SPET defects was equivalent between the two tests in only 11 patients (28%), larger defects being observed with exercise in 18 [average difference: 12%+/-5% of left ventricle (LV)] and with dipyridamole in 11 (average difference: 15%+/-11% of LV). The best independent predictors of discrepancies between the two tests were: (1) increase in heart rate at exercise SPET, with defects being smaller at exercise than after dipyridamole in none of the patients with an increase >60 bpm (0/14), but in 42% of the others (11/26; P=0.004); and (2) an ischaemic territory related to a <70% coronary stenosis, for which SPET defects were always induced at exercise (10/10) but in only 30% (3/10) with dipyridamole (P=0.0004). Exercise and dipyridamole SPET provide different estimates of myocardial ischaemic areas. Dipyridamole allows the unmasking of perfusion abnormalities in patients who have low increases in heart rate at exercise SPET. However, dipyridamole is also much less efficient at inducing perfusion abnormalities in the ischaemic areas supplied by coronary stenoses of intermediate severity at rest angiography.     

Cardiac phase-synchronized myocardial thallium-201 single-photon emission tomography using list mode data acquisition and iterative tomographic reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to determine whether data acquisition in the list mode and iterative tomographic reconstruction would render feasible cardiac phase-synchronized thallium-201 single-photon emission tomography (SPET) of the myocardium under routine conditions without modifications in tracer dose, acquisition time, or number of steps of the a gamma camera. Seventy non-selected patients underwent²⁰¹Tl SPET imaging according to a routine protocol (74 MBq/2 mCi²⁰¹Tl, 180° rotation of the gamma camera, 32 steps, 30 min). Gamma camera data, ECG, and a time signal were recorded in list mode. The cardiac cycle was divided into eight phases, the end-diastolic phase encompassing the QRS complex, and the end-systolic phase the T wave. Both phase- and non-phase-synchronized tomograms based on the same list mode data were reconstructed iteratively. Phase-synchronized and non-synchronized images were compared. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not coronary artery disease had been definitely diagnosed prior to SPET imaging. The numbers of patients in both groups demonstrating defects visible on the phase-synchronized but not on the non-synchronized images were compared. It was found that both postexercise and redistribution phase tomograms were suited for interpretation. The changes from end-diastolic to end-systolic images allowed a comparative assessment of regional wall motility and tracer uptake. End-diastolic tomograms provided the best definition of defects. Additional defects not apparent on non-synchronized images were visible in 40 patients, six of whom did not show any defect on the non-synchronized images. Of 42 patients in whom coronary artery disease had been definitely diagnosed, 19 had additional defects not visible on the non-synchronized images, in comparison to 21 of 28 in whom coronary artery disease was suspected (P<0.02; ²). It is concluded that cardiac phase-synchronized²⁰¹Tl SPET of the myocardium was made feasible by list mode data acquisition and iterative reconstruction. The additional findings on the phase-synchronized tomograms, not visible on the non-synchronized ones, represented genuine defects. Cardiac phase-synchronized²⁰¹Tl SPET is advantageous in allowing simultaneous assessment of regional wall motion and tracer uptake, and in visualizing smaller defects.     

The clinical impact of thallium-201 reinjection scintigraphy for detection of myocardial viability

In a clinical study, the value of thallium-201 reinjection was studied in 139 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease who showed one or more persistent defects after conventional stress-redistribution imaging. Fifty-nine (42%) patients had sustained a Q-wave myocardial infarction. Sixty-eight (49%) patients showed a reversible defect in at least one myocardial segment at redistribution, while 71 (51%) had persistent defects only. Following reinjection additional segmental filling-in was seen in 95 (68%) patients, including 50 of the 68 (74%) patients with reversible defects and 45 of the 71(63%) with persistent defects only. On the immediately post-exercise images, 458 (47%) of 973 segments showed perfusion defects. At redistribution 105 (23%) of the 458 defects showed filling-in, whereas of the remaining 353 persistent defects 164 (46%) resolved additionally after reinjection. Thirteen (10%) of 133 Q-wave related defects showed filling-in at redistribution compared with 22 (27%) of 82 remote defects (P = 0.001). After reinjection additional filling-in of defects was seen in 47 (39%) of 120 Q-wave related defects compared with 35 (58%) or 60 remote defects (P = 0.015). Overall, 60 (45%) of 133 Q-wave related defects resolved compared with 57 (70%) of 82 remote defects (P = 0.005). Thus reinjection of thallium-201 (1) revealed reversible defects in 63% of patients with only persistent defects at redistribution, (2) demonstrated additional filling-in in 74% of patients who already showed reversible defects at redistribution, (3) showed viability in 46% of segments initially classified as persistent, and (4) demonstrated filling-in in 39% of Q-wave related segments, although this was less conspicuous than in remote segments. Offprint requests to: E.K.J. Pauwels     

Clinical value of triple-energy window scatter correction in simultaneous dual-isotope single-photon emission tomography with123I-BMIPP and201TI

To improve the image quality in simultaneous dual-isotope single-photon emission tomography (SPET) with iodine-123 labelled 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and thallium-201, we applied the triple-energy window method JEW) for correction of the cross-talk and scatter artifact. Seventy-one patients with coronary artery disease were included.²⁰¹T1 cross-talk into the¹²³I acquisition window (group 1,n = 30) and¹²³I cross-talk into the²⁰¹Tl window (group 2,n = 41) were studied. In group 1,¹²³I images were first obtained (single-isotope images), followed by²⁰¹Tl injection and SPET acquisition using dual-isotope windows (dual-isotope images). In group 2, the order was reversed. The dual-isotope SPET images with and without TEW were compared with the single-isotope images. Qualitative evaluation was performed by scoring the segmental defect pattern. Detectability of the mismatched fatty acid metabolism on dual-isotope SPET was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Segmental defect pattern agreement between dual and corrected single images was significantly improved by TEW correction (P<0.01). The agreement was particularly improved in segments with absence of uptake. There was no significant difference between TEW-corrected dual-isotope SPET and corresponding single-isotope SPET with regard to either % defect count or background activity. Mismatched fatty acid metabolism depicted by dual-isotope SPET predicted abnormal wall motion more accurately with TEW than without TEW. With TEW, a practical method for scatter and cross-talk correction in clinical settings, simultaneous dual¹²³I-BMIPP/²⁰¹Tl SPET is feasible for the assessment of myocardial perfusion/metabolism mismatch.     

Clearance of thallium-201 from the peripheral blood: Comparison of immediate and standard thallium-201 reinjection

As several reinjection procedures have shown encouraging results in terms of imaging, we investigated whether the kinetics of thallium-201 would differ between the standard stress-redistribution-reinjection approach and the stress-immediate reinjection approach. In 53 consecutive patients with undiagnosed chest pain, 75 MBq (2 mCi)²⁰¹Tl was injected at maximal exercise. In 26 of these patients (group I), 37 MBq (1 mCi)²⁰¹Tl was reinjected immediately after completing the exercise images (the immediate reinjection procedure) and in 27 patients (group II), 37 MBq (1 mCi)²⁰¹Tl was reinjected after completing 3-h redistribution images (the standard reinjection procedure). Mean peak²⁰¹Tl blood activity after exercise was 17.7±12.5 kBq/ml (4.8±3.4 mCi/ml) for group I versus 16.4±9.2 kBq/ml (4.4±2.5 mCi/ml) for group II (NS). The relative increase in²⁰¹Tl blood activity after reinjection of half the initial dose [37 MBq (1 mCi)] exceeded 50% of the initial peak in both groups. The relative amount of²⁰¹Tl delivered to the myocardium was assessed by the area under the curve after both exercise and reinjection, and was 117%±72% for group I and 112%±73% for group II (NS). Blood clearance of²⁰¹Tl was at least biexponential. Mean early decay constants (₁) after exercise and reinjection were 0.30±0.18 min^–1 and 0.22±0.046 min^–1 respectively for group I (T _1/2 2.3 min and 3.2 min respectively, NS), and 0.30±0.12 min^–1 and 0.24±0.07 min^–1 respectively for group II (T _1/2 2.3 min and 2.9 min respectively, NS). For both procedures no significant differences were found between ₁ after exercise and ₁ after injection. The mean late clearance (₂) from the blood was 0.032±0.056 min^–1 and 0.012±0.012 min^–1 respectively for group I (T _1/2 21.6 min and 57.7 min respectively, NS), and 0.036±0.030 min^–1 and 0.014±0.014 min^–1 respectively for group II (T _1/2 19.3 min and 49.5 min respectively, NS). Also, no significant differences were found between ₂ after exercise for both groups and between ₂ after reinjection for both groups. We conclude that reinjection of 37 MBq (1 mCi)²⁰¹Tl (half the initial dose) results in a relative increase in the initial peak and a relative increase in the amount of²⁰¹Tl delivered to the myocardium of more than 50% for both the standard and the immediate reinjection procedure. The clearance of²⁰¹Tl from the blood was not influenced by exercise or by the time of reinjection. Based on²⁰¹Tl kinetics as measured in the peripheral blood, there is no reason to postpone reinjection until 3–4 h following exercise.     

Transient ischemic stunning of the myocardium in stress thallium-201 gated SPET myocardial perfusion imaging: segmental analysis of myocardial perfusion,wall motion and wall thickening changes

Prolonged and persistent myocardial stunning has recently been demonstrated using technetium-99m sestamibi gated single-photon emission tomography (SPET) myocardial perfusion imaging post exercise or pharmacological stress test. In this study, we investigated the early postischemic transient myocardial stunning on early and delayed poststress thallium-201 gated SPET myocardial perfusion imaging using segmental wall motion (WM) and wall thickening (WT) analysis. A total of 1,680 segments from 84 patients' studies (53 men and 31 women, mean age 60 years) were evaluated on both early and delayed thallium-201 gated SPET treadmill exercise (59) or dobutamine stress (25) myocardial perfusion imaging. Semiquantitative analysis of perfusion, WM and WT in all segments was performed by two observers. Segments were classified according to changes in WM and WT between early and delayed images into normal, fixed abnormality, or improved abnormality (transient stunning), and were further classified according to changes in perfusion into normal, fixed defects, or ischemic. There were significant correlations between perfusion and WM, perfusion and WT, and WM and WT segmental scores on both early and delayed images. Transient stunning was seen significantly ( P < 0.001) more often in ischemic segments than were normal or fixed perfusion defects using WM (58%) and WT (50%) assessments. There was also a significant correlation between the severity of ischemia and transient stunning with either WM ( P < 0.05) or WT ( P < 0.005) evaluation. Segmental myocardial contractility assessment from gated SPET (201)Tl myocardial perfusion imaging using WM and WT was comparable, and results correlated well with the myocardial perfusion assessment. Early transient myocardial stunning was frequently observed in ischemic segments and was related to the severity of myocardial ischemia.     

Reverse redistribution of thallium-201 represents a low-risk finding in thrombolysed patients following myocardial infarction

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of reverse redistribution on thallium-201 imaging in post-myocardial infarction patients who have undergone thrombolytic therapy. Sixty-two patients aged 35–79 (mean 60) years with proven myocardial infarction who had undergone thrombolysis were studied 6 weeks post infarction. Standard stress and 4-h redistribution imaging was performed with ²⁰¹Tl following treadmill exercise. Separate day rest injection of ²⁰¹T1 was given after sublingual nitroglycerine; imaging was performed at 1 h. Planar images were acquired in three standard views and semiquantitative segmental analysis of the images was performed from the unprocessed images. All patients had radionuclide ventriculography for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion abnormality. Thirty-three patients also had coronary angiography. ²⁰¹T1 scintigraphy revealed fixed defects in 19 patients, reversible defects in 22, and reverse redistribution in 21. Those with reverse redistribution had a significantly higher exercise capacity (P < 0.01). Mean (SD) left ventricular ejection fraction was 46 (12)% for those with fixed defects, 47 (9)% for those with reversible defects and 45 (15)% for patients with reverse redistribution (P = NS). The regional wall motion abnormality score was 8 (5), 11.8 (2.2) and 14.2 (6) respectively in patients with reverse redistribution, redistribution alone and fixed defects. Regions with reverse redistribution revealed less regional wall motion abnormality compared to the other two groups (P < 0.01). Fifteen patients demonstrated significant ²⁰¹Tl uptake in the region showing reverse redistribution, with rest injection of ²⁰¹Tl following sublingual nitroglycerine, suggesting viable myocardium in that region. Patients with reverse redistribution had less residual stenosis of the infarct-related artery than those with fixed or reversible defects. Reverse redistribution on ²⁰¹T1 scintigraphy is a common phenomenon, even at 6 weeks, in patients with myocardial infarction who have received thrombolytic therapy. Areas with reverse redistribution demonstrate ²⁰¹T1 uptake following rest injection, less regional wall motion abnormality and a more patent infarct-related artery. Thus, reverse redistribution in these patients represents a low risk finding which suggests retained myocardial viability and successful thrombolytic therapy.     

201Tl与13N-NH3、18F-FDG PET心肌显像判断存活心肌的对比研究

目的　比较再注射2 0 1T1心肌显像与联合应用13 N NH3 及18F 脱氧葡萄糖 (FDG)心肌PET显像判断存活心肌的临床价值。方法　 2 0例心肌梗死患者 ,行2 0 1T1SPECT负荷、再分布、再注射显像及13 N NH3 、18F FDGPET心肌显像。将左室分成 9个节段 ,以视觉评价法对放射性分布进行 4级评分。获得2 0 1T1SPECT再分布、再注射像及18F FDGPET显像的局部心肌摄取率 (%ID)。结果　PET判定为存活心肌的 48个节段中 ,45个节段 (93.8% ) 2 0 1T1再注射像也判定为存活心肌。在2 0 1T1再分布像示放射性分布严重低下的 2 4个节段 ,2 0 1T1再注射像与PET显像判定存活心肌的一致率为 87.5 % ,其中 37.5 %为存活心肌节段 ,5 0 %为无存活心肌节段。 2种显像方法的 %ID无明显差异 ,且呈显著正相关 (r=0 .72 2 )。结论　再注射2 0 1T1心肌显像判断存活心肌的准确性与PET心肌显像相似 ,有较大的临床应用价值。     

Amplitude analysis of stress technetium-99m methoxy isobutylisonitrile images in coronary artery disease

To determine the role of rest and stress gated technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (sestamibi), in the detection of coronary artery disease, routine Fourier analysis of these images was performed with the best septal left anterior oblique (LAO) position of 20 patients (17 men, 3 women; aged 40–75 years) who also underwent rest or redistribution/stress single photon emission tomography (SPET) (^99mTc-sestamibi and Thallium-201), gated blood pool imaging and coronary angiogram. There were 6 patients with single-vessel disease, 6 with two-vessel disease, 4 with three-vessel disease, 2 with coronary spasms, 1 with a patent graft and 1 with anginal episodes but a normal angiogram result. Three normal volunteers (2 women, 1 man; aged 24–26 years) also had rest and stress gated blood pool as well as rest and stress gated ^99mTc-sestamibi imaging. Rest and stress ^99mTc-ses-tamibi amplitude and phase images depicted regional myocardial wall shortening from the outer layer of the myocardium to the center of the left ventricle as follows a high amplitude halo of maximal negative count rate variaton; a circular thinner halo of negligible amplitude; a central region of maximal positive count rate variation, as the images evolved from end-diastole to end-systole. Similar patterns with regional differences represented abnormal myocardial wall shortening. (^99mTc-sestamibi and ²⁰¹T1 SPET) images were in agreement in 90% of the patients and 92% of myocardial regions. ²⁰¹T1 SPET detected 83% of angiographically proven lesions, as compared with 80% for ^99mTc-setamibi SPET and 80% for the amplitude images. The amplitude images demonstrated a larger number of other abnormalities not predicted on the angiogram, probably because they were able to detect regions with a potential for flow improvement and transient regional wall shortening abnormalities. Amplitude and phase analyses of gated rest and stress ^99mTc-ses-tamibi images are easy to perform and may become an important adjunct to (^99mTc-sestamibi SPET) images for a complete evaluation of both regional myocardial perfusion and regional contractile function using a single tracer. Offprint requests to: E.E. Camargo