Surface rendering of three-dimensional myocardial SPECT: clinical usefulness compared with bull's-eye and conventional tomograms.
BACKGROUND
A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) surface-shaded maps for routine practice of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) by comparison with 2D slices and 2D bull's-eye qualitative analysis.


RESULTS
Angiograms were performed on 201 consecutive patients, 155 with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 46 with no significant CAD. One-day 201TI stress/rest-reinjection protocol was performed in 110 patients, and 1-day 99mTc-sestamibi or tetrofosmin stress/rest protocol was performed in 91. The stress protocol was either exercise or dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg) infusion. Three-dimensional surface maps were obtained by using a threshold for the transaxial data at 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, and 70% of the maximum pixel value in the first 60 patients. Interpretation of 3D maps was based on the presence of a complete (transmural-looking) perfusion hole within the myocardial wall; doubtful patterns were considered pathologic or normal. Good diagnostic values were found for the 50% to 60% thresholds, but the 60% setting showed the best concordance with multislice and bull's-eye analysis; higher values drastically degraded the specificity. Considering doubtful patterns as normal clarified interpretation and led to a small loss in sensitivity but high gain in specificity. Applied to the whole population, the 3D maps using a 60% threshold provided similar diagnostic value to detect CAD as did conventional and bull's-eye analysis. Moreover, the 3D maps showed a trend toward higher specificity and a proportionally smaller decrease in sensitivity (sensitivity: 92.9%, 90.3%, 89.7%; specificity: 45.6%, 50.0%, 58.7% for tomograms, bull's-eye analysis, and 3D maps, respectively), especially for the detection of left anterior descending and right CAD. Multivessel disease was detected in an identical manner. Three-dimensional maps might improve detection of perfusion defects in the basal regions. However, 3D maps were found to be less sensitive than slices and particularly bull's-eye analysis for the reversibility of stress defects.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional surface display of myocardial perfusion is a valuable independent tool for determining presence, extent, and location of CAD. It can convey useful first-look information to the referring physician, especially through a cine-rotational motion (as done in our practice through use of a floppy disk.
Demangeat
J L
JL
Department of Nuclear Medicine, General Hospital, Haguenau, France.
Gries
P
P
Bessekri
A
A
Fellinger
F
F
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004176:Dipyridamole; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin; D004176:Dipyridamole; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi