Three-dimensional color-modulated display of myocardial SPECT perfusion distributions accurately assesses coronary artery disease.
The objective of this study was to compare visual assessment of 3-dimensional color-modulated (to counts) surface displays with visual assessment of oblique tomographic slices of myocardial SPECT perfusion distributions in the detection and localization of coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
Sixty-two consecutive patients (41 men, 21 women; mean age, 61 +/- 11 y) who had undergone conventional dual-isotope perfusion SPECT were retrospectively chosen; 50 had undergone coronary arteriography previously, and 12 had less than a 5% likelihood of CAD. Four readers interpreted the 3-dimensional displays and slices in separate sessions while unaware of the findings of previous readings, the interpretations of others, and the angiographic results. The readers used a 5-point scoring system. Their average score was used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The area under the ROC curves was determined so that the ability of the 2 methods to detect and localize CAD could be compared.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found between visual interpretation of 3-dimensional displays and visual interpretation of slices.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results indicate that visual interpretation of 3-dimensional displays of myocardial perfusion SPECT distributions may someday replace visual assessment of conventional slices without loss of diagnostic accuracy.
Santana
C A
CA
Radiology Department, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Garcia
E V
EV
Vansant
J P
JP
Krawczynska
E G
EG
Folks
R D
RD
Cooke
C D
CD
Faber
T L
TL
D019540:Area Under Curve; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon