Are shades of gray prognostically useful in reporting myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography?
BACKGROUND
We have advocated the use of a 5-category "normal," "probably normal," "equivocal," "probably abnormal," and "definitely abnormal" approach to final interpretation of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The prognostic value of expressing levels of certainty compared with a dichotomous normal/abnormal classification or categories for summed stress scores is unclear.


RESULTS
Myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) was visually assessed using a standard semiquantitative approach, yielding summed scores that were used for preliminary interpretation using 5 levels of certainty. The interpreter was permitted to then shift the level of certainty in the final interpretation by 1 degree, based on nonperfusion MPS variables and available clinical information. To examine the prognostic value of expressing levels of clinical certainty, we evaluated 20 740 unique consecutive patients who underwent rest Tl-201/stress Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (34.3% vasodilator stress), of whom 845 (4.4%) were lost to follow-up and 1695 were excluded from prognostic analysis due to an early revascularization (<60 days after MPS). The remaining 18 200 patients (59.1% men; age, 65+/-13 years) were followed up for cardiac death for a mean of 2.7+/-1.7 years. During the follow-up, a total of 591 cardiac death events occurred. By univariable analysis, there were substantial differences in the distribution of follow-up cardiac death by the category of clinical MPS certainty. The clinical certainty was found to be an independent multivariable predictor of cardiac death in the study population and better identified patients at increased risk of cardiac death than the approaches based solely on the standard categories of summed perfusion scores or based solely on categories of segmental perfusion scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of multicategory reporting of MPS results incorporating nonperfusion MPS results and clinical information enhances risk stratification compared with both a dichotomous normal/abnormal approach or approaches based solely on segmental categories of perfusion scores. Whether this enhanced risk stratification based on the clinical certainty of the MPS interpretation leads to a more effective therapeutic regimen, tailored to the individual patient's need, requires further prospective evaluation.
Abidov
Aiden
A
Department of Imaging and the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Hachamovitch
Rory
R
Hayes
Sean W
SW
Friedman
John D
JD
Cohen
Ishac
I
Kang
Xingping
X
De Yang
Ling
L
Thomson
Louise
L
Germano
Guido
G
Slomka
Piotr
P
Berman
Daniel S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi