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Myocardial imaging with /sup 201/Tl at rest and during exercise. Comparison with coronary arteriography and resting and stress electrocardiography

Journal Article · · Circulation; (United States)

Myocardial imaging with intravenous thallium-201 (/sup 201/Tl) was performed at rest and following maximal treadmill exercise in 101 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Results were interpreted from Polaroid scintiphotos by three independent observers with complete interobserver agreement in 79%. Of 25 patients with no or insignificant coronary artery disease (<50% diameter stenosis), one (4%) had a resting /sup 201/Tl image defect, one (4%) had an exercise /sup 201/Tl defect, none had an ECG Q wave, and four (16%) had exercise ST-segment depression. Among 76 patients with coronary artery disease (greater than or equal to 50% diameter stenosis), 58 (76%) had a defect on either the rest or exercise /sup 201/Tl image. The proportion of patients with an exercise image defect (50/76, 66%) was greater than the proportion with exercise ST depression alone (34/76, 45%; P < 0.02). Overall, 69 of the 76 (91%) patients with coronary artery disease had either a positive rest or exercise myocardial image and/or positive rest (ECG Q waves) or exercise (ST depression) electrocardiogram. This exceeded the proportion with only rest or exercise electrocardiographic abnormalities (50/76, 65%; P < 0.001). We conclude that rest and exercise myocardial imaging with /sup 201/Tl is easily accomplished with readily available imaging equipment. The image data enhanced the diagnostic sensitivity of stress electrocardiography, and provided spatial identification of the abnormal segment(s) of myocardium.

Research Organization:
Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle
OSTI ID:
7319554
Journal Information:
Circulation; (United States), Journal Name: Circulation; (United States) Vol. 56:1; ISSN CIRCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English