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

Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(81)90317-9· OSTI ID:5550171

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

The use of treadmill testing in asymptomatic patients and those with an atypical chest pain syndrome is increasing, yet the proportion of false positive stress electrocardiograms increases as the prevalence of disease decreases. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of computer-enhanced thallium perfusion scintigraphy in this subgroup of patients, multigated thallium scans were obtained after peak exercise and 3 or 4 hours after exercise and the raw images enhanced by a computer before interpretations were made. The patient group consisted of 191 asymptomatic U.S. Air force aircrewmen who had an abnormal exercise electrocardiogram. Of these, 135 had normal coronary angiographic findings, 15 had subcritical coronary stenosis (less than 50 percent diameter narrowing) and 41 had significant coronary artery disease. Use of computer enhancement resulted in only four false positive and two false negative scintigrams. The small subgroup with subcritical coronary disease had equivocal results on thallium scintigraphy, 10 men having abnormal scans and 5 showing no defects. The clinical significance of such subcritical disease in unclear, but it can be detected with thallium scintigraphy. Thallium scintigrams that have been enhanced by readily available computer techniques are an accurate diagnostic tool even in asymptomatic patients with an easily interpretable abnormal maximal stress electrocardiogram. Thallium scans can be effectively used in counseling asymptomatic patients on the likelihood of their having coronary artery disease.

• Research Organization: U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace, Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, TX
• OSTI ID: 5550171
• Journal Information: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Cardiol.; (United States) Vol. 48:6; ISSN AJCDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ARTERIES
AVIATION PERSONNEL
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CORONARIES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DIAGRAMS
DISEASES
ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EXERCISE
HEAVY NUCLEI
IMAGE PROCESSING
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
PERSONNEL
PROCESSING
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
THALLIUM 201
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
USES
VASCULAR DISEASES