Attenuation corrected gated SPECT for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes

Ann Nucl Med. 2008 Apr;22(3):171-6. doi: 10.1007/s12149-007-0100-5. Epub 2008 May 23.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of attenuation correction (AC) of Tc-99m tetrofosmin single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) imaging for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: Attenuation corrected and non-attenuation corrected (NC) resting Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT were compared for the assessment of LVEF. Planar multigated radionuclide angiography (MUGA) served as the reference for LVEF assessment. Patients (n = 56) with left ventricular dysfunction who underwent MUGA and rest gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT within 1 month were included.

Results: The average LVEF on NC gated SPECT was 37.4 +/- 11.8% and on AC SPECT 38.5 +/- 13.4% (P = NS). The absolute mean difference of the LVEF between the MUGA and NC gated SPECT and AC gated SPECT was -0.2% (95% CI -1.7 to 1.3) and -1.3% (95% CI -2.7 to 0.03), respectively (P = NS both vs. MUGA). The correlation between NC gated SPECT and AC gated SPECT versus MUGA measurement was high with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 (P < 0.01) and 0.92 (P < 0.01), respectively. End-diastolic volumes (EDVs) and end-systolic volumes (ESVs) were significantly higher with AC gated SPECT when compared with NC gated SPECT (both P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Profile AC gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT agrees well with MUGA and NC gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT for the assessment of LVEF. EDVs and ESVs are significantly higher with AC gated SPECT when compared with NC gated SPECT.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Energy Transfer / physiology
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Gated Blood-Pool Imaging
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / chemistry
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Photons*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Research Design*
  • Stroke Volume
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin