Computer-enhanced thallium scintigrams in asymptomatic men with abnormal exercise tests

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(81)90317-9· OSTI ID:5450822

Uhl, G S; Kay, T N; Hickman, Jr, J R

The usefulness of computer-enhanced thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in excluding the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients showing abnormal exercise electrocardiograms is evaluated. Multigated thallium scans were obtained immediately following and 3 or 4 hours after maximal exercise testing in 191 consecutive asymptomatic Air Force aircrew members who had shown abnormal exercise electrocardiograms and who were due to undergo coronary angiography. Computer enhancement of the raw images is found to lead to four false positive and two false negative scintigrams as revealed by angiographic results, while the group of 15 with subcritical coronary disease exhibited equivocal results. Results reveal that enhanced thallium scintigrams are an accurate diagnostics tool in detecting myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients and may be used in counseling asymptomatic patients on their likelihood of having coronary artery disease.

• Research Organization: USAF, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX
• OSTI ID: 5450822
• Journal Information: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States) Vol. 48; ISSN AJCDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AVIATION PERSONNEL
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
CARDIOGRAPHY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EXERCISE
HEART
ISCHEMIA
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEDICINE
MUSCLES
MYOCARDIUM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PERSONNEL
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOLOGY
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SCINTISCANNING
SYMPTOMS
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
VASCULAR DISEASES