[Pseudodefects in myocardial SPECT after implantation of defibrillator patches: phantom measurement with SPECT and PET].
OBJECTIVE
In order to estimate the effect of an epicardial or subcutan defibrillator patch electrode on the imaging of myocardium with SPET and PET we performed measurements with a body phantom and two different patch electrodes.


RESULTS
We found that in 201TI-SPET with epicardial placing one electrode causes significant pseudodefects, which might lead to the impression of an infarction ("pseudoinfarction"), particularly in the case of reduced myocardial wall thickness. Measurements with 99nTc show the same pseudodefects. In case of subcutaneous placing the electrodes are much less likely to cause relevant absorption effects. With PET even epicardially placed both patch electrodes do not produce pseudodefects. Therefore the risk of false-positive findings is very small with PET.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to avoid false positive findings in cardiovascular nuclear medicine caused by defibrillator patch electrodes, patients with patch electrodes should be referred to PET, if available.
Buchert
R
R
Abteilungen für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätskrankenhauses Eppendorf der Universität Hamburg, Deutschland.
Rickers
C
C
Fuchs
C
C
Nienaber
C A
CA
Lübeck
M
M
D016477:Artifacts; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D013667:Technetium; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D013667:Technetium