Exercise thallium-201 imaging in complete left bundle branch block and the prevalence of septal perfusion defects

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · American Journal of Cardiology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(91)90097-5· OSTI ID:6149677

Jazmati, B; Sadaniantz, A; Emaus, S P; Heller, G V ^[1]

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1. Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket (USA)

To determine the prevalence of septal defects in a generalized referral population, the records of 93 consecutive patients with complete left bundle branch block (BBB) who underwent symptom-limited treadmill exercise testing with thallium-201 myocardial imaging over a 3-year period were reviewed. Segmental analysis of the planar thallium-201 images was performed in a blinded fashion with agreement by consensus. Computerized quantitative analysis of the images also was independently performed, and was correlated with the visual interpretations. Forty-seven patients (51%) had normal images, and 46 (49%) had defects of greater than or equal to 2 segments. In the abnormal studies, only 13 patients (14% of the total population) had septal defects, while a much higher number of patients, 33 (39%), had inferior or apical defects, or both. Coronary angiography was performed in 6 patients with septal defects: Significant narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery was found in 4 patients, a narrowed right coronary artery was found in 1, and normal coronary arteries were seen in the other patient. In conclusion, whereas previous studies have suggested a high percentage of false-positive septal defects in patients with left BBB, this study demonstrates a low prevalence (14%) of septal defects in a large population of unselected patients presenting for exercise thallium-201 imaging. Therefore, exercise thallium-201 imaging remains a useful procedure for evaluating patients with complete left BBB.

• OSTI ID: 6149677
• Journal Information: American Journal of Cardiology; (USA), Vol. 67:1; ISSN 0002-9149
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DIAGNOSIS
MYOCARDIUM
IMAGE PROCESSING
EXERCISE
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
THALLIUM 201
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DOSES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
HEART
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MUSCLES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PROCESSING
RADIOISOTOPES
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
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