Effect of motion on thallium-201 SPECT studies: a simulation and clinical study.
Although patient motion on 201Tl SPECT studies has been reported as a source of artifacts, systematic studies on motion patterns and resultant artifacts are lacking. Accordingly, we simulated 74 motion patterns upon a normal study. The tomograms were assessed for presence of defects: The "motion pixel area index" ranged from 1 to 83; 26 of 30 (87%) simulations with an index > or = 21 had defects, whereas 38 of 44 (86%) simulations with an index < 21 were normal. Defect location was dependent on motion direction; defect intensity was dependent on its magnitude and timing. Review of data acquisition in 164 recent normal patient studies revealed motion in 42 (26%). Motion was generally minimal and caused defects in only seven (4%). Thus, mild motion is unlikely to produce defects. In our laboratory, motion is now an infrequent source of artifacts; severe motion produces recognizable patterns that depend on its direction, magnitude and timing.
Prigent
F M
FM
Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Hyun
M
M
Berman
D S
DS
Rozanski
A
A
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008961:Models, Structural; D009038:Motion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes