First-pass radionuclide angiography using iodine-123 myocardial tracers and a multicrystal gamma camera.
The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of the assessment of ventricular function by first-pass radionuclide angiography (FPRNA) with 123I myocardial tracers and a multicrystal gamma camera.


METHODS
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and right ventricular ejection fraction were measured in 69 patients by FPRNA using 123I myocardial tracers (126 +/- 7 MBq) and 99mTc tracers (541 +/- 141 MBq) on a multicrystal gamma camera with a high-sensitivity collimator. For 44 patients, ejection fraction values measured by 123I-FPRNA were compared to those estimated by equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA). Visual wall-motion analysis was also performed to judge clinical acceptability of 123I-FPRNA images for identification of wall-motion abnormality.


RESULTS
Mean LVEFs (%) estimated by 123I-FPRNA and by 99mTc-FPRNA were 49.6 +/- 13.6 and 49.1 +/- 14.1, respectively (nonsignificant p value). An excellent correlation was found between LVEFs estimated by 123I-FPRNA and 99mTc-FPRNA (r = 0.96, s.e.e. = 1.9%). Values of LVEF measured by 123I-FPRNA also demonstrated excellent correlation with those measured by ERNA (r = 0.95, s.e.e. = 2.2%). A good correlation was also noted between right ventricular ejection fractions measured by 123I-FPRNA and 99mTc-FPRNA (r = 0.72, s.e.e. = 4.0%). The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between 123I-FPRNA and ERNA wall-motion scores was 0.87 (n = 135, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Resting ventricular function can be reliably measured with 123I-FPRNA in combination with a multicrystal gamma camera. This indicates that the assessment of ventricular function is feasible in conjunction with 123I myocardial imaging without an increase in cost or radiation dose to patients.
Tadamura
E
E
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
Kitano
H
H
Kudoh
T
T
Hattori
N
N
Inubushi
M
M
Nishimura
K
K
Masuda
I
I
Inada
H
H
Hosokawa
R
R
Nohara
R
R
Konishi
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016276:Ventricular Function; D015646:Ventriculography, First-Pass / Q000379:methods
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes