Interv Akut Kardiol. 2003;2(4):190-197

QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION, FUNCTION AND VIABILITY USING SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Milan Kamínek, Miroslav Mysliveček, Václav Hušák

Klinika nukleární medicíny FN a LF UP v Olomouci

A review is given about the present state of nuclear cardiology, particularly about the progress in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). ECG-gated SPECT examination is a current standard which makes possible the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) myocardial perfusion and function. A spectrum of patients referred for this examination changes significantly. Myocardial perfusion SPECT plays the important role in diagnostics of coronary artery disease (CAD), however, there is nowadays growing significance of the evaluation of prognosis in patients known or suspected CAD, detection of ischemia CAD in some patients after coronary revascularization, and viability assessment in patients with LV dysfunction. Quantification of the extent and severity of perfusion defects by means of a summed stress score (SSS) yields important information on decision concerning further therapy. In patients with the normal perfusion (SSS 0–3) or with the mildly abnormal perfusion (SSS 4–8) the risk of heart death is low (< 1 % annually) and medicamentous therapy can be preferred. On the contrary, in patients with the moderate or severe abnormality of perfusion (SSS > 8) preference is given to the invasive strategy.

Keywords: myocardial perfusion, gated SPECT, coronary artery disease, risk stratification.

Published: December 31, 2003  Show citation