title: Comparison of cardiogoniometry and ECG at rest versus myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiogoniometry (CGM) is a novel resting electrocardiac method based on computer-generated three-dimensional data derived from cardiac potentials. The purpose of this study was to determine CGM's and electrocardiography's (ECG) accuracy for detecting myocardial ischemia and/or lesions in comparison with stress/rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (single photon emission computer tomography [SPECT]).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of consecutively enrolled patients (n = 100) with suspected or known coronary artery disease (mean age 67.8 years, 52% female) were examined by CGM and resting ECG before stress/rest myocardial scintigraphy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pathological scintigraphy findings at adenosine stress perfusion (ASP) and/or rest were conclusively identified in 21 patients. Diagnostic sensitivity was 71% for CGM and 24% for ECG, specificity was 70% for CGM and 95% for ECG. Reversible ischemia was diagnosed in 16 of 21 patients with pathological scintigraphy results. In this subgroup, sensitivity was 67% for CGM and 25% for ECG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At rest, the sensitivity of a CGM significantly surmounts that of a standard 12-lead ECG for detection of isolated myocardial ischemia or myocardial lesions revealed by scintigraphy/SPECT; specificity is in a reasonable range. CGM's ease of use and its considerable agreement with the results of myocardial scintigraphy, suggests a possible role for patient screening in the primary care setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Practice for Cardiology and Nuclear Medicine, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birkemeyer
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schultes
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grewenig
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huebner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012146:Rest; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014672:Vectorcardiography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin
keywords: coronary artery disease (CAD); myocardial scar; patient management; risk stratification; vectorcardiography