Time Regularity of Morphology of Blood Pools / 法医学杂志

Objective To provide reference indexes and theoretical basis for age estimation of blood pools by investigating the entire drying process and monitoring the change of morphology and mass. Methods Four 15 mL blood pool samples were prepared on the clean ceramic plate. The change of morphology and mass of blood pools in a closed dark environment with a temperature of （20.0±0.5） ℃ and a humidity of 35%-45% were dynamically observed from 0 h to 60 h. Images of the blood pools were recorded by digital camera. The area of blood pools was calculated by MATLAB R2014b, the length of cracks was measured by Image J and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 16.0. Results By summarizing and analyzing, the drying of blood pools was divided into five stages： coagulation （0-4.5 h）, gelation （>4.5-20.0 h）, gel-solid mixing （>20.0-37.0 h）, solid （>37.0-40.0 h） and final desiccation （>40.0-45.0 h）. From 0 to 45 h, the mass of the blood pools decreased linearly with time, and the decrease was not obvious from 45.0 to 60.0 h. The standardized mass （y2） showed strong correlation with the time （x） y2=0.018 2 x+0.271 4（R2=0.967 9）. The area change rate of blood pools, the distance that the edge of blood pools moved, the average length of radical cracks had little correlation with the time that passed. Conclusion The overall morphological characteristics of blood pools show a certain regularity with the time and the standardized indexes established provide a reference for the age estimation of blood pools.

Evaluation of left ventricular function in breast cancer with targeted therapy by gated equilibration ventriculography / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To observe the evaluation function of gated equilibration ventriculography for the changes of left ventricular function in breast cancer with targeted therapy. Methods From February 2016 to December 2017, a total of 60 female breast cancer patients (age:28-65 (48.7±9.4) years) were included prospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups: lapatinib combined with taxeme-based chemo-therapy group (group A;n=25, age:29-65 (47.8±11.3) years) and lapatinib monotherapy group (group B;n=35, age:31-62 (51.1±8.5) years). All patients underwent gated equilibration ventriculography be-fore treatment and 6/12 months after treatment. The parameters of left ventricular function including left ven-tricle ejection fraction (LVEF), peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR), 1/3 ejection fraction (EF), 1/3 filling fraction (FF), time to peak ejection rate (TPER) and time of peak filling rate (TPFR) were observed. Repeated measurement analysis of variance, independent-samples t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were performed. Results In group A, the PER at 12 months after treatment ((3.11±0.48) end-di-astolic volume (EDV)/s) was lower than that before treatment ((3.60±0.62) EDV/s;F=3.447, t=0.60, P<0. 05), while there was no statistical difference between PER at 6 months after treatment ((3.34±0.57) EDV/s) and that before treatment (t=0.51, P>0. 05);the PFR at 6 months ((3.07±0.71) EDV/s) and 12 months after treatment ((2.84±0.54) EDV/s) declined significantly compared with that before treatment ((3. 57± 0. 81) EDV/s;F=5.345, t=0.82 and 0.75, both P<0. 05) . In group B, the PFR at 12 months after treat-ment ((2.86±0.55) EDV/s) declined significantly compared with that before treatment ((3.23±0. 87) EDV/s;F=3.214, t=0.84, P<0. 05) . The decrease of PFR at 6 months and 12 months after treatment in group A was greater than that in group B (-0.37(-0.78, 0. 15) vs -0.13(-0.44, 0.17) EDV/s; z=-1.569, P<0. 05) . Conclusions The gated equilibration ventriculography can effectively monitor the left ventricular function of breast cancer patients after targeted therapy. PER and PFR may be more sensitive than other pa-rameters to assess heart function changes. The lapatinib combined with taxeme-based chemotherapy can af-fect diastolic function more and earlier than lapatinib monotherapy.

99Tcm-MIBI Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Evaluating Coronary Microangiopathy in Patients with Diabetic Mellitus / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To evaluate the clinical guiding value of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile gated myocardial perfusion imaging (99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI) in diagnosing the coronary microangiopathy in patients with diabetic mellitus.Materials and Methods Sixty patients with clinical confirmed coronary microvascular angina were selected and assigned into two groups,with 26 patients (with diabetes mellitus) in group A and 34 patients in group B (without diabetes mellitus).The region,extent and range of coronary microangiopathy was detected by 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI,and the difference of myocardial ischemia between the two groups was statistically analyzed.Results The ratio of abnormal myocardial perfusion in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (96.15％ vs.73.53％,x2=5.43,P＜0.05);the total number of abnormal coronary branches in group A was significantly larger than that in group B (82.67％ vs.62.67％,P＜0.05);the total number abnormal perfusion segments in group A was significantly larger than that in group B (P＜0.05),and the abnormal perfusion segments number of anterior wall,septum,apical region and inferior wall in group A was significantly larger than that ingroup B (P＜0.05);the rate of abnormal perfusion at single coronary supplying region in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P＜0.05).Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI is of great clinical significance for diagnosing coronary microangiopathy and evaluating myocardial ischemia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Bone Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is There Additional Value of Bone Scintigraphy with Blood Pool Phase over Conventional Bone Scintigraphy?

We aimed to investigate the value of bone scintigraphy with additional blood pool phase (BSBP), compared with conventional bone scintigraphy (CBS), in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 242 patients (43 males, 199 females; 14-78 years) with arthralgia, and underwent BSBP were retrospectively analyzed. On the first physical examination, active arthritis was found in 128 of the 242 patients. Clinical diagnosis was made by a rheumatologist on the basis of the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, which are considered to be the gold standard. The diagnostic performances and prognostic value of BSBP and CBS were analyzed in the total patients with arthralgia and in the patients with arthritis. The sensitivity of BSBP (84.2%, 80/95) were significantly higher than that of CBS (74.8%, 72/95) in the patients with arthralgia (P = 0.039). When BSBP was interpreted with the results of elevated/positive anti-CCP antibody, its accuracy over CBS also became significantly higher (86.0%, 208/242 vs. 83.1%, 201/242 respectively, P = 0.021). The diagnostic odds ratio of BSBP positivity was higher than CBS positivity in the patients with arthralgia (26.0, 12.9-52.4 vs. 21.1, 10.8-41.3) and with arthritis (12.0, 4.9-29.4 vs. 10.0, 4.2-23.4). Both BSBP and CBS appear to provide acceptable accuracy and comparable diagnostic performance for diagnosis of RA. However, in the patients with arthralgia, BSBP was found to be more sensitive than CBS and more accurate when interpreted with the result of anti-CCP antibody. This could help physicians diagnose RA in daily clinical practice.

Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Quantitative Analysis Technique in Evaluation of Left Ventricular Remodeling and Its Effect on Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To investigate the clinical value of gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) quantitative analysis technique in evaluating left ventricular remodeling and its effects on left ventricular function in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Materials and Methods Seventy-six cases of MI patients were retrospectively analyzed, including pure left anterior descending artery (LAD) disease in 21 cases , left circumlfex artery (LCX) or right coronary branch (RCA) disease in 23 patients and multivessel disease in 32 cases. Seventy-four healthy people were additionally selected as control group. GMPI was performed on all subjects. Reconstruction images were automatically analyzed by using cardiac software QGS 2009 to obtain left ventricular remodeling index, including diastolic sphericity index (SIED) and end-systolic sphericity index (SIES). Cardiac function parameters were also obtained, including left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and peak iflling rate (PFR). Differences of the left ventricular remodeling index and cardiac function parameters between the MI group and the control group were compared to analyze the relationship between left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and coronary artery lesions. Results SIED, SIES and EDV, ESV in MI group were signiifcantly higher than those in the normal group (P0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that LVEF and PFR in group of left ventricular remodeling was signiifcantly lower with the increase of SIED (F=43.231 and 15.642, P<0.01). SIED and SIES analysis resulted in high correlation for both intra-observer and inter-observer (r=0.881-0.926, P<0.01). Conclusion Left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction can be accurately evaluated by GMPI. Patients with myocardial infarction due to LAD or multi-vessel coronary artery diseases may have left ventricular remodeling easier and more severe. Left ventricular remodeling will seriously affect the myocardial contraction and diastolic function, resulting in the entire left ventricular dysfunction.

Comparison of ECToolbox Formulae for the Assessment of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To evaluate the correlation and consistency of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained by ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (GMPS) using four formulae (R0-R3) of ECToolbox software and findings on equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA), and to determine the optimal diagnostic thresholds by using the four formulae. Materials and Methods A total of 38 patients with myocardial infarction and 65 patients with suspected coronary heart disease underwent both 99Tcm-MIBI rest GMPS and 99Tcm-RBC ERNA within a week. The LVEF values calculated by ECToolbox R0, R1, R2 and R3 were compared with those obtained by ERNA, and compared with ERNA results, the optimal diagnostic thresholds of the four formulae (R0-R3) were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results The results calculated by the formulae (R0-R3) presented a significant positive correlation with that obtained by ERNA [mean LVEF value by ERNA (54.6±17.5)%, mean LVEF value by formulae R0-R3 (64.1±15.7)%, (56.3±15.1)%, (69.9±17.9)% and (56.7±13.6)%, respectively, r=0.899, 0.898, 0.890, 0.895; P<0.01]. All mean LVEF values calculated by the four formulae were higher than that by ERNA, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). LVEF≥50%obtained by ERNA was considered as normal diagnostic value, the optimal diagnostic thresholds of R0-R3 were 56.5%, 51.5%, 64.5% and 52.5%, respectively. Conclusion The results calculated by R0, R1, R2 and R3 in the ECToolbox software and that by ERNA show significant correlation and difference for the assessment of LVEF. Thus it is advisable to stick to one formula in the follow-up of each patient and select correspondent threshold in the clinical diagnosis.

Effect of different pacing sites on ventricular synchrony evaluated by gated blood pool SPECT / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To compare the effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing on ventricular systolic synchrony using gated blood pool SPECT (GBPS).Methods A total of 50 patients implanted with pacemaker due to high degree or complete atria-ventricular block were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients were RVOT paced ( Group A, n = 23) and 27 were RVA paced (Group B, n=27). Twenty-four patients with malignancy, normal echocardiographic findings and no history of cardiac diseases were scheduled for pre-chemotherapy evaluation of cardiac structure and function and were enrolled as control group ( Group C, n = 24). All patients underwent GBPS imaging and the values of phase angle (PS), mean phase of each wall, standard deviation (SD) of mean phase of each wall, lateral-septal motion delay of left ventricle ( LV Sep-Lat Delay), septal-right ventricular (RV) delay of LV ( LV Sep-RV Delay) and LV-RV Delay were acquired. The parameters of ventricular systolic synchrony among the three groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results The mean phase of LV lateral wall in Groups A and B were significantly higher than that in Group C: Group A (120.50 ±40.58) ms; Group B (103.23±28.34) ms; Group C (84.63 ±22.38) ms (F=7.72, P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 1.30, P ＞ 0.05 ). The mean phase of RV in Group A was significantly larger than those in Groups B and C: Group A ( 137.05 ± 39.27) ms, Group B ( 100.85 ± 23.79) ms,Group C (59. 13 ±30.52) ms (F=35.55, P＜0.05). PS, SD and LV Sep-Lat Delay in Groups A and B were significantly higher than those in Group C: (85.73 ± 12.00)°vs (89.85 ± 15.61 )°vs (58.95 ±9.87)°, (27.68±10.66) ms vs (26.15 ±13.02) ms vs (15.63 ±8.35) ms, (25.06±34.23) ms vs (2. 62 ± 60. 31 ) ms vs ( - 23.66 ± 31.39) ms, F = 41.54,8.55,6.81, all P ＜ 0.01 ), however, there was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 0. 68, 0.68, 1.30, all P ＞ 0.05 ). LV Sep-RV Delay and LV-RV Delay were significantly different among the three groups ( LV Sep-RV Delay: Group A (57.60 ±56.77) ms, Group B (6.36 ±61.88) ms, Group C ( -41.89 ±35.78) ms; LV-RV Delay:Group A (47.36 ±42.59) ms, Group B ( 3.08 ± 38.81 ) ms Group C ( - 26.50 ± 20.99 ) ms, F = 20. 32,25.38, both P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Both RVA and RVOT pacing increase the segmental phases detected by GBPS, causing inter- and intra- ventricular asynchrony compared with patients without pacemakers.

Application of ECToolbox software in evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To evaluate the applicability of formula R0, R1, R2 of ECToolbox software in measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with gated myocardial imaging. Methods Rest gated myocardial SPECT with ~(99m)Tc-MIBI and rest gated blood-pool SPECT with ~(99m)Tc-RBC were performed on 64 patients (44 with CHD, 20 with hypertension). LVEFs were separately calculated with formula R0, R1, R2 of ECToolbox software, and the results were recorded as R0 LVEF, R1 LVEF and R2 LVEF, respectively, and compared with LVEFs from gated blood-pool imaging (GBPI LVEF). Results The LVEFs from formula R0, R1 and R2 were all significantly correlated with GBPI LVEF (r=0.905, 0.905 and 0.903, P0.05). Conclusion The formula R1 of ECToolbox software is most applicable in measuring LVEF with gated myocardial imaging.

Clinical value of evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony by gated blood pool imaging and tissue Doppler imaging / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the clinical value of the gated blood pool imaging phase analysis method in the evaluation of left ventricular mechanical synchronization in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods A total of 169 patients with chronic heart failure were enrolled in our study , using gated blood pool imaging phase analysis method to obtain left ventricular phase angle width ( PHB) and left ventricular phase angle standard deviation ( PSD) as evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony index; using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) measurement of the standard deviation of systolic peak time(Ts-SD) of each segment by using the current prevailing 12 non-apical segments analysis method as evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony index, and parameters derived from both methods were compared. Results LVPHB was highly correlated with Ts-SD (r = 0. 83 ,P = 0. 000 ) . LVPSD was modestly correlated with Ts-SD ( r - 0. 69, P = 0. 000) . The ejection fraction measured by echocardiography was (42.93 ± 14. 89) % ,which was significantly higher than that measured by ERNA (39. 76 ± 17. 89)% (P <0. 01). Conclusions The evaluation of left ventricular mechanical synchrony in patients with chronic heart failure by the gated blood pool imaging can provide similar information with TDI, which can simultaneously measure two ventricular functions and get more accurate measurement of ejection fraction. Cardiac resynchronization therapy patients can be identified by combining two kinds of approaches, and cardiac resynchronization therapy responders could be improved as well. More patients with heart failure can benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy therapy.

Comparison of prospective versus retrospective electrocardiogram-gating 320-detector computed tomography coronary angiography with sing heartbeat / 中国医师杂志

Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gating 320-detectorcomputed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) versus retrospective ECG-gating CTCA. Methods 500consecutive patients suspected coronary artery disease with heart rate of less than 65 bpm were performed coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with prospective (group P)and retrospective (group R) ECG gating in turn. The image quality was divided into four levels. Success rates, effective radiation dose,image quality and diagnosis were evaluated. Results Success rates of examination in group P and R are100%.Mean patient radiation dose was significantly different in group P (3.28±1mSv) and R(14.36 ±2.3 mSv).131 and 142 of 3750 segments (250 patients x 15 segments per patient) were too small(1.5mm)tobe characterized in group P and R. 96. 51% (3619/3750) and 96.12% (3608/3750) characterized segments were not significantly different in group P and R. 95.09% segments received a score of 4 and 1.09% segments received a score of 3 in group P, while 95.23% and 0.74% in group R.The cause of 2 and 3 points in the two groups was motion artifact. Stair-step artifacts and images scored as 1were not found.Compared with CAG,the sensitivity,specificity,false positive andfalse negative value in group P(86. 49% ,98. 70% ,88. 89% ,98.38%) and R(83. 87% ,98.74% ,89. 65%,97.93%) were not significantly different. Conclusion Although the patient radiation exposure was significantly lower, the diagnostic performance of prospective ECG-gating 320-detector CTCA was comparable with that of retrospective ECG-gating 320-detector CTCA on patients with stable heart rates less than 65 bpm.

Massive Haemangioma Liver: Detection by Technitium-99m RBC Blood Pool Imaging

Hemangiomas are benign liver tumors. They are mostly asymptomatic. We report a case of massive hemangioma located in the right lobe of liver and emphasise its detection by Tc-99m Red blood cell blood pool imaging.

Assessment of Ventricular Function Using Gated Blood Pool Scan and Gated Blood Pool SPECT / 대한핵의학회잡지

Non-invasive evaluation of cardiac function by nuclear medicine technologies are one of the major contribution of nuclear medicine. Gated cardiac blood pool scan was once a novel and robust technique which enabled evaluation of ventricular function. Concept of EKG gating was one of the major breakthrough in nuclear cardiology. According to the evolution of echocardiographic techniques, and as the evaluation of myocardial perfusion by perfusion SPECT became feasible, number of gated blood pool study done in nuclear medicine laboratory is declining. And recently, evaluation of ventricular function with gated perfusion SPECT further decreased the use of gated blood pool scan. In this article, assessment of ventricular function using gated blood pool scan is discussed including some insight about the role of gated blood pool SPECT.

Evaluation of Hepatic Hemangioma by Tc-99m Red Blood Cell Hepatic Blood Pool Scan / 대한핵의학회잡지

Hemangioma is the most common benign tumor of the liver, with a prevalence estimated as high as 7%. Tc-99m red blood cell (RBC) hepatic blood pool scan with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is extremely useful for the confirmation or exclusion of hepatic hemangiomas. The classic finding of absent or decreased perfusion and increased blood pooling ("perfusion/blood pool mismatch") is the key diagnostic element in the diagnosis of hemangiomas. The combination of early arterial flow and delayed blood pooling ("perfusion/blood pool match") is shown uncommonly. In giant hemangioma, filling with radioactivity appears first in the periphery, with progressive central fill-in on sequential RBC blood pool scan. However, the reverse filling pattern, which begins first in the center with progressive peripheral filling, is also rarely seen. Studies with false-positive blood pooling have been reported infrequently in nonhemangiomas, including hemangiosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic adenoma, and metastatic carcinomas (adenocarcinoma of the colon, small cell carcinoma of the lung, neruroendocrine carcinoma). False-negative results have been also reported rarely except for small hemagniomas that are below the limits of spatial resolution of gamma camera.

Technical Refinement of 99mTc-RBC Scrotal Scan for Evaluating Varicocele / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The association of varicoceles and subfertility has been well documented. Although varicoceles remain the most common surgically correctable cause of male infertility the subjective diagnosis of varicocele, especially the small ones remains a challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 40 young men (16 volunteers, 24 varicocele patients) with scrotal blood pool scan using 99mTc RBC. RESULTS: Complete correlation between physical findings and the scrotal scan was found. The postoperative scans of 12 patients with surgically corrected high grade varicoceles demonstrated symmetrical photon accumulation in the scrotum. The technique which most accurately correlated the clinical grade was the varicocele index using total count at Valsalva maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the 99mTc RBC scrotal scan with technical refinement is a useful procedure in the objective diagnosis and followup of varicoceles.

Differences in Left and Right Ventricular Function between Different Infarct Sites: An ECG-Gated Blood Pool Study

BACKGROUND: Ventricular function is one of the important prognostic factors in patients with coronary artery disease. Among noninvasive approaches for the evaluation of ventricular performance, radionuclide ventriculo-graphy has shown to be of particular values in the patients with myocardial infarction. We have evaluated ven-tricular function with ECG-gated blood pool scan (GBPS) in patients with myocardial infarction of different locations and compared right and left ventricular functions. METHOD: Left and right ventricular function was assessed with multigated blood pool scan in 49 patients at 2-3 weeks after acute myocardial infarction (anterior infarction=23, inferior infarction=19, and lateral infarction=7). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), maximal emptying rate, maximal filling rate, phase angle and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of phase angles were measured during rest. RESULTS: 1) LVEF was signifi-cantly lower in the patients with anterior myocardial infarction (32.2%) than that of inferior (46.5%, p<0.001) or lateral infarction (45.5%, p<0.05), but not different between inferior and lateral infarction. 2) RVEF was significantly lower in the patients with inferior myocardial infarction (24.6%) than that of anterior (30.5%, p<0.05) or lateral infarction (36.1%, p<0.001), and RVEF of anterior infarction was significantly lower than that of lateral infarction (p<0.05). 3) Phase angle and FWHM of left ventricle and right ventricle phase histogram were not significantly different among the patients groups with different infarct sites. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular function was differently affected by different infarct sites. Inferior infarction resulted in a greater reduction in right ventricular ejection fraction. In contrast, LVEF was greatly depressed in anterior infarction than in inferior infarction.

On-Line Assessment of Left Ventricular Function by Automated Border Detection Echocardiography : Comparison with Gated Cardiac Blood Pool Scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Automated border detection(ABD) is a new echocardiographic modality providing continuous on-line measurements of left ventricular(LV) cavitary ares, volume, and ejection fraction(EF) throughout the cardiac cycle. Previous study showed that LV volume and EF measurements with ABD system approximate manually traced LV volume and EF obtained with conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography. But further clinical validation needs a comparison of LV function between the ABD system and established methods. The purpose of this study is to compare EF, peak ejection rate(PER) and peak filling rate(PFR) between on-line ABD system and the gated cardiac blood pool scinitigraphy. METHOD: 27 patients with an apical 4 chamber view of LV in which at least 75% of the endocardium was clearly seen were selected for this study. They had a normal sinus rhythm and underwent echocardiographic study on the same day of or one day before gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphic study. The off-line estimation of LV volume was performed by the method of disc, after manually tracing the endocardial border on the apical 4 chamber view and EFoff was calculated. Also on that view the ABD system was turned on, and EFABD, PEABD, PEABD were calculated automatically from LV volume curve. They were compared with EFRI, PERRI, and PERRI obtained by the gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy. RESULTS: 1) EFoff and EFABD were highly correlated with EFRI(r=0.78, 0.90 respectively : p0.05). The mean difference between PERRI and PEABD was -0.8+/-0.8EDV/sec, and the limits of agreement were -2.4~+0.8EDV/sec. PEABD were greater than PERRI(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: EF, PER, PER measurements by the ABD system and the gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy have significant correlations. Thus ABD echocardiography is a useful method for assessement of LV function.

Assessment of Ventricular Function and Phase Abnormality by Gated Blood Pool Scan in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Gated blood pool scan(GBPS) may be used for evaluating patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) where it can assist in the diagnosis, and evaluation of severity, disease progression or therapeutic efficacy. In addition to the routine parameters that have been available by GBPS, relatively simple mathematical manipulations of the equilibrium time activity curve can derive parameters relating to the degree and sequence of ventricular emptying. This first harmonic phase analysis may enable quantitative and more specific measurements of wall motion abnormalities in DCM and may thus be useful for more accurate assessments in these patients. Thus, in an attempt to evaluate the findings of phase analysis in DCM and to determine their possible usefulness in this entity, we measured parameters of phase analysis from the resting GBPS of 25 DCM patients and 11 normal controls, and compared these with other parameters of ventricular function from GBPS or echocardiography. Parameters of the systolic as well as diastolic function were markedly depressed for both left and right ventricles (all p<0.001), and echocardiographic LV systolic diameter was increased in all patients. Phase analsis showed the mean and standard deviation of phase angle(Mph & SDph) of both ventricles to be singificantly greater, and the mean amplitude smaller in DCM patients compared to controls(p<0.01). SDph appeared to be a sensitive parameter(LV 100%, RV 92%), and LV SDph showed significant correlations with other GBPS parmeters such as LV ejection fraction(LVEF) and LV peak ejection rate(LVPER) (r=-0.85 and 0.75, respectively) (all p<0.001), and with LV systolic diameter (r=0.78, p<0.001). Also, LV mean amplitude correlated well with LVEF (r=0.79, p<0.001). Thus, phase analysis of GBPS was able to show and quantify significant asynchronity in contraction of both ventricles in DCM, and these parameters may by useful in evaluating ventricular performance in these patients.