Attenuation corrected gated SPECT for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of attenuation correction (AC) of Tc-99m tetrofosmin single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) imaging for the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).


METHODS
Attenuation corrected and non-attenuation corrected (NC) resting Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT were compared for the assessment of LVEF. Planar multigated radionuclide angiography (MUGA) served as the reference for LVEF assessment. Patients (n = 56) with left ventricular dysfunction who underwent MUGA and rest gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT within 1 month were included.


RESULTS
The average LVEF on NC gated SPECT was 37.4 +/- 11.8% and on AC SPECT 38.5 +/- 13.4% (P = NS). The absolute mean difference of the LVEF between the MUGA and NC gated SPECT and AC gated SPECT was -0.2% (95% CI -1.7 to 1.3) and -1.3% (95% CI -2.7 to 0.03), respectively (P = NS both vs. MUGA). The correlation between NC gated SPECT and AC gated SPECT versus MUGA measurement was high with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 (P < 0.01) and 0.92 (P < 0.01), respectively. End-diastolic volumes (EDVs) and end-systolic volumes (ESVs) were significantly higher with AC gated SPECT when compared with NC gated SPECT (both P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Profile AC gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT agrees well with MUGA and NC gated Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT for the assessment of LVEF. EDVs and ESVs are significantly higher with AC gated SPECT when compared with NC gated SPECT.
Slart
Riemer H J A
RH
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, the Netherlands. r.h.j.a.slart@ngmb.umcg.nl
Tio
René A
RA
Zeebregts
Clark J
CJ
Willemsen
Antoon T M
AT
Dierckx
Rudi A J O
RA
De Sutter
Johan
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000502:physiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015637:Gated Blood-Pool Imaging; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017785:Photons; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012107:Research Design; D013318:Stroke Volume; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin