Feasibility of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in the super-obese using a multi-head semiconductor camera with attenuation correction.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is not only associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, but also decreases the accuracy of many diagnostic modalities pertinent to this disease. Advances in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) have mitigated somewhat the effects of obesity, although the feasibility of MPI in the super-obese (defined as a BMI > 50) is currently untested. We undertook this study to assess the practicality of MPI in the super-obese using a multi-headed solid-state gamma camera with attenuation correction.


METHODS
We retrospectively identified consecutive super-obese patients referred for MPI at our institution. The images were interpreted by 3 blinded, experienced readers and graded for quality and diagnosis, and subjectively evaluated the contribution of attenuation correction. Clinical follow-up was obtained from review of medical records.


RESULTS
72 consecutive super-obese patients were included. Their BMI ranged from 50 to 67 (55.7 ± 5.1). Stress image quality was considered good or excellent in 45 (63%), satisfactory in 24 (33%), poor in 3 (4%), and uninterpretable in 0 patients. Rest images were considered good or excellent in 34 (49%), satisfactory in 23 (33%), poor in 13 (19%), and uninterpretable in 0 patients. Attenuation correction changed the interpretation in 34 (47%) of studies.


CONCLUSIONS
MPI is feasible and provides acceptable image quality for super-obese patients, although it may be camera and protocol dependent.
Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1025 Wallnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
Anthony E
AE
DeCicco
Alexis B
AB
Sokil
Gregary D
GD
Marhefka
Kirk
K
Reist
Christopher L
CL
Hansen
D016477:Artifacts; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012666:Semiconductors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods