Transient defects of resting thallium scans in patients with coronary artery disease

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Circulation; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.59.4.707· OSTI ID:6228324

Gewirtz, H; Beller, G A; Strauss, H W; Dinsmore, R E; Zir, L M; McKusick, K A; Pohost, G M

Defects on resting thallium-201 (/sup 201/Tl) scans in patients who do not have evidence of acute myocardial ischemia have been thought to represent myocardial scar. Our study of 20 patients with stable but severe coronary artery disease (CAD) was undertaken to reexamine the significance of such defects. Images in each of two projections were divided into three zones, for a total of 120 zones in 20 patients. An initial defect was present in 43 zones in 15 patients, while five patients demonstrated totally normal studies. On later scans, 18 defects persisted while 25 filled in. Twelve of 18 persistent defects were associated with ECG evidence of infarction, compared with only six of 25 transient defects. Six of 12 persistent defects, compared with only one of 18 transient defects, were associated with akinesia/dyskinesia. In addition, 17 of 18 transient defects were associated with either normal left ventricular wall motion (12 defects) or hypokinesia (five defects). Finally, 23 of 25 transient defects, compared with only 41 of 77 normal zones, were associated with severe CAD. Thus, in resting patients with stable CAD: (1) serial imaging reveals that many initial defects fill in over time; (2) initial resting defects on Tl scans may not indicate myocardial scar; and (3) transient defects are usually associated with severe CAD, but normal or only mildly abnormal left ventricular wall motion.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• OSTI ID: 6228324
• Journal Information: Circulation; (United States), Journal Name: Circulation; (United States) Vol. 59:4; ISSN CIRCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ARTERIES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BLOOD FLOW
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CORONARIES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
HEART
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEASURING METHODS
MUSCLES
MYOCARDIUM
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
THALLIUM 201
THALLIUM ISOTOPES