Clinical implications of increased lung uptake of /sup 201/Tl during exercise scintigraphy 2 weeks after myocardial infarction

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(82)90232-6· OSTI ID:6816744

Gibson, R S; Watson, D D; Carabello, B A; Holt, N D; Beller, G A

To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of increased lung /sup 201/Tl uptake during submaximal exercise myocardial scintigraphy performed 2 weeks after acute myocardial infarction, 61 patients underwent submaximal exercise testing (target heart rate, 120 beats/min), multigated blood pool imaging at rest and coronary angiography before hospital discharge. Thallium lung uptake on the initial anterior projection image was graded qualitatively by comparing the intensity of /sup 201/Tl activity in the lungs with that in the mediastinum. In 39 patients (64 percent), it was normal (equal to mediastinal activity) and in 22 (36 percent), it was increased (greater than mediastinal activity). Compared with patients with normal lung uptake, those with increased uptake had a greater prevalence of prior infarction (13 versus 36 percent, probability (p) less than 0.05), less global cardiac reserve as assessed by the four level New York Heart Association classification (p less than 0.05), more advanced Killip class in the coronary care unit (p less than 0.05), a higher Norris coronary prognostic index (2.6 +/- 1.9 versus 4.6 +/- 2.3 (mean +/- standard deviation), p less than 0.01), failure to achieve the target heart rate because of dyspnea, fatigue or angina (36 versus 86 percent, p less than 0.01), a greater prevalence of exercise-induced S-T segment depression (18 versus 45 percent, p less than 0.05), a greater number of anterior /sup 201/Tl myocardial defects (p less than 0.05); a lower radionuclide ejection fraction at rest (50.4 +/- 6.1 versus 39.6 +/- 9.3 percent, p less than 0.01) and a greater number of asynergic left ventricular segments (p less than 0.05). Thus, the occurrence of increased lung /sup 201/Tl uptake during submaximal exercise scintigraphy in the early postinfarction period is frequent and appears to be a marker of severe and functionally more important coronary artery disease associated with left ventricular dysfunction.

• Research Organization: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville
• OSTI ID: 6816744
• Journal Information: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States), Vol. 49:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
DIAGNOSIS
MYOCARDIUM
SCINTISCANNING
THALLIUM 201
DIAGNOSTIC USES
EXERCISE
LUNGS
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
UPTAKE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
HEART
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MUSCLES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
USES
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics