Clinical usefulness of combinatorial protocol with stress only myocardial perfusion SPECT,CTA and SPECT/CTA 3-dimensional fusion image

Background  

This study was designed to assess the value of a combinatorial protocol, namely, stress only myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS), 64-slice coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and SPECT/CTA 3-dimensional (3D) fusion imaging for the evaluation of coronary artery disease.     

Correlation of chronic kidney disease,diabetes and peripheral artery disease with cardiovascular events in patients using stress myocardial perfusion imaging

Objective  

Normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) studies generally suggest an excellent prognosis for cardiovascular events. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD) have been established as the risk factors for cardiovascular events. However, whether these risk factors significantly predict cardiovascular events in patients with normal stress MPI is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of these risk factors in patients with normal stress MPI.     

Clinical role of the Duke Activity Status Index in the selection of the optimal type of stress myocardial perfusion imaging study in patients with known or suspected ischemic heart disease

Background  

Exercise treadmill stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography is commonly used to evaluate the extent and severity of inducible ischemia as well as to risk stratify patients with suspected and known coronary artery disease (CAD). Failure to reach adequate stress, defined as not attaining age-appropriate metabolic equivalents (METs), can underestimate the extent and severity of ischemic heart disease, resulting in false negative results. This study evaluates the efficacy of the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), a simple self-administered 12-item questionnaire, as a predictor of METs achieved by treadmill stress testing.     

Multicenter investigation comparing a highly efficient half-time stress-only attenuation correction approach against standard rest-stress Tc-99m SPECT imaging

Background  

New iterative algorithms for scatter compensation (SC), noise suppression, and depth-dependent collimator resolution (RR) can shorten rest and stress SPECT acquisitions by 50% while maintaining quality and accuracy equivalent to conventional scans. Full-time stress-only myocardial perfusion SPECT is accurate and efficient when combined with line-source attenuation correction (LSAC). We investigated the potential for half-time stress-only LSAC-SPECT by comparing this to conventional rest/stress SPECT in patients imaged for suspected CAD at three different centers.     

Sympathetic tone assessed by washout of iodine 125-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine from the murine left ventricle-influence of immobilization stress and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system

Background  

Because it is not metabolized as is norepinephrine (NE), most of the metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) taken up by the heart is considered to be lost subsequently by release concomitant with sympathetic stimulation. Therefore we examined whether the washout of MIBG is influenced by sympathetic tone, which we modulated by using immobilization stress or activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).     

Predictive and prognostic values of transient ischemic dilatation of left ventricular cavity for coronary artery disease and impact of various managements on clinical outcome using technetium-99m sestamibi gated myocardial perfusion imaging

Background  

Transient ischemic dilatation (TID) of LV cavity during stress gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) is known as a predictor of severe CAD and signifies worse prognosis.     

Stress/rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients without significant coronary artery disease

Aim  

To define the prognostic impact of stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in patients with angiographic exclusion of significant coronary artery disease.     

Economic analysis of the use of coronary calcium scoring as an alternative to stress ECG in the non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Objective  

To conduct an economic analysis (EA) of coronary calcium scoring (CCS) using a 0 score, as alternative to stress electrocardiography (sECG) in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD).     

Effect of stress testing on left ventricular mechanical synchrony by phase analysis of gated positron emission tomography in patients with normal myocardial perfusion

Purpose  

There are limited data on whether differences exist in left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony indices derived from stress versus rest gated positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with normal myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).     

Myocardial perfusion imaging using adenosine-induced stress dual-energy computed tomography of the heart: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and conventional coronary angiography

Objective  

To evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of adenosine-stress dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) for detecting haemodynamically significant stenosis causing reversible myocardial perfusion defect (PD) compared with stress perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (SP-MRI) and conventional coronary angiography (CCA).     

Incremental value of combining 64-slice computed tomography angiography with stress nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging to improve noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease

Background  

To compare the accuracy of combined 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA) and stress nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) with that of 64-slice CTA alone.     

Impact of chronic kidney disease and stress myocardial perfusion imaging as a predictor of cardiovascular events

Background  

Stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an established means of predicting cardiovascular events and is suitable in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of CKD parameters and an abnormal stress MPI for cardiovascular events.     

Addition of atropine to submaximal exercise stress testing in patients evaluated for suspected ischaemia with SPECT imaging: a randomized,placebo-controlled trial

Purpose  

To evaluate the effects of the addition of atropine to exercise testing in patients who failed to achieve their target heart rate (HR) during stress myocardial perfusion imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).     

Nomograms for estimating coronary artery disease prognosis with gated stress myocardial perfusion SPECT

Background  

Nomograms can be useful tools for estimating coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. We sought to devise risk-based nomograms for stress myocardial perfusion SPECT to include measures of % ischemic myocardium and left ventricular function.     

The impact of adenosine pharmacologic stress combined with low-level exercise in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging (BIWAKO adenosine-Ex trial)

Background  

The combination of adenosine infusion with low-level exercise has become a common approach for inducing stress during stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We investigated stress MPI performed by combined low-level exercise and adenosine infusion. This combined protocol can decrease adverse reactions and reduce the effect of scattered rays from the liver.     

ST-segment depression during vasodilator stress is of minor clinical importance in women with normal myocardial perfusion imaging and low or intermediate risk of coronary artery disease

Purpose  

The prognostic value of electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-segment depression during vasodilator stress testing in patients with normal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is based on retrospective studies with controversial results. Moreover, the true incidence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in these patients is unknown.     

Effect of heavy training in contact sports on MRI findings in the pubic region of asymptomatic competitive athletes compared with non-athlete controls

Objective  

Bone marrow edema (BME) at the pubic symphysis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually associated with groin pain and stress injury of the pubic bone. Little is known of the pubic MR imaging findings of asymptomatic heavy training athletes in contact sports.     

Diagnostic and clinical benefit of combined coronary calcium and perfusion assessment in patients undergoing PET/CT myocardial perfusion stress imaging

Background  

A limitation of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is the inability to detect non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). One advantage of MPI with a hybrid CT device is the ability to obtain same-setting measurement of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).     

Stress-only imaging in patients with prior SPECT MPI: A simulation study

Objectives  

The aim of this study was to determine if omitting the repeat resting scan in patients who had prior single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) would have an impact on the interpretation of the stress test.     

Lessons from regadenoson and low-level treadmill/regadenoson myocardial perfusion imaging: Initial clinical experience in 1263 patients

Background  

Regadenoson is a pharmacologic stress agent, which was recently approved for stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Aside from the initial protocol-driven studies, clinical experience with this stress agent is limited. Furthermore, low-level treadmill testing in a large population with regadenoson has not previously been evaluated. We describe our experience in the first 6 months of routine inpatient and outpatient clinical use.