Diagnostic accuracy of thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Circulation; (United States)

OSTI ID:5013113

Beller, G A ^[1]

---

1. Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville (United States)

Myocardial thallium-201 (Tl-201) imaging performed in conjunction with exercise stress has enhanced the accuracy of detecting coronary artery disease among patients with chest pain. Sensitivity and specificity of qualitative visual Tl-201 scintigraphy for detection of coronary artery disease average 84% and 87%, respectively. Quantitative analysis of planar Tl-201 scintigrams has yielded sensitivity and specificity in the 90% range. Single photon emission computed tomographic imaging is associated with even higher sensitivity but with specificity in the 82-85% range. Perfusion defects representing ischemia can now be distinguished from scar by demonstration of delayed Tl-201 redistribution or enhanced uptake after reinjection of a second dose of Tl-201. Stenoses of the left circumflex coronary artery are less easily detected than lesions of the right and left anterior descending coronary arteries. False-positive Tl-201 perfusion defects may occur as a result of attenuation artifacts, most often caused by overlying breast tissue or by a high left hemidiaphragm. Patient motion during acquisition of single photon emission computed tomographic images results in artifactual defects on reconstruction. Abnormal Tl-201 uptake has been noted in patients with (1) left bundle branch block and normal coronary arteries, (2) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and (3) progressive systemic sclerosis.

• OSTI ID: 5013113
• Journal Information: Circulation; (United States), Journal Name: Circulation; (United States) Vol. 84:3 Suppl; ISSN 0009-7322; ISSN CIRCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ACCURACY
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DOGS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
EXERCISE
HEART
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
THALLIUM 201
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
TOMOGRAPHY
VERTEBRATES