Correlación de sincronía de la contracción del ventrículo izquierdo con función sisto-diastólica, masa y excentricidad en diversas afecciones cardíacas mediante un software comercial dedicado de SPECT gatillado / Gated Spect evaluation of ventricular systolic synchrony: correlation with ventricular mass and excentricity in different forms of cardiac disease

INTRODUCCIÓN: Actualmente, hay nuevas herramientas de software disponibles para medir la sincronía de la contracción intraventricular izquierda mediante SPECT de perfusión miocárdica. Esta técnica permite identificar anomalías de la conducción, apoyar la terapia de resincronización en insuficiencia cardíaca refractaria e incluso la detección precoz de isquemia. OBJETIVO: Conocer la correlación de la sincronía de contracción con otros parámetros de disfunción sisto-diastólica ventricular izquierda. MÉTODO: Estudiamos 135 pacientes remitidos para pesquisa o evaluación de enfermedad coronaria conocida mediante SPECT gatillado. La evaluación de la interpretación inicial con programas QPS/QGS® visual y cuantitativo se efectuó a 50 casos con defectos de perfusión transitoria de diversos tamaños (isquemia), 25 de tipo fijo o mixto (infarto) y 60 sin ellos (normal). Los volúmenes telesistólicos oscilaron entre 26 y 458 mL. Se excluyeron casos con arritmias, anomalías de conducción y artefactos (actividad o movimiento extracardiaco). Los SPECT se procesaron retrospectivamente utilizando el programa Emory Synctool®. Del histograma de sincronía de la contracción, el ancho de banda (BW) y la desviación estándar (SD) se correlacionaron con la fracción de eyección (FEVI), volúmenes y excentricidades sistólico / diastólico, masa ventricular izquierda, tasa máxima de llenado (PFR) y tiempo al máximo de llenado (TPFR). RESULTADOS: Los BW y SD del histograma de fase de contracción fueron mayores en el grupo con defectos fijos y mixtos en comparación con los con perfusión normal. Las correlaciones en reposo y post estrés (Spearman) entre SD y BW con FEVI, volúmenes, excentricidad y masa fueron significativas (p <0,0002) salvo TPFR que no fue significativa. CONCLUSIÓN: La sincronía de contracción intraventricular sistólica izquierda medida con SPECT se correlaciona excelentemente con los parámetros funcionales sistólicos y diastólicos, así como con masa y excentricidad en diversas condiciones y tamaños cardíacos.

INTRODUCTION: New software tools are available to measure left intraventricular contraction synchrony by myocardial perfusion SPECT. This technique allows identification of conduction abnormalities, support resynchronization therapy in refractory heart failure and even allows early detection of myocardial ischemia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of systolic synchrony with other parameters of left ventricular systolic-diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: We studied 135 patients referred for screening or known coronary artery disease evaluation by triggered SPECT. Evaluation of the initial interpretation with visual and quantitative QPS/QGS® programs was performed in 50 patients with transient perfusion defects of various sizes (ischemia), 25 of fixed or mixed type (infarction) and 60 without abnormalities. Telesystolic volumes ranged from 26 to 458 mL. Cases with arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities and artifacts (extracardiac activity or motion) were excluded. SPECT scans were retrospectively processed using the Emory Synctool® software. Histograms of systolic contraction synchrony bandwidth (BW) and standard deviation (SD) were correlated with ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic/diastolic volumes and eccentricities, left ventricular mass, peak filling rate (PFR) and time to maximum filling (TPFR). RESULTS: BW and SD of the contraction pase histogram were higher in the fixed and mixed defect group compared to studies showing normal perfusion. Spearman correlations at rest and poststress between SD and BW with LVEF, volumes, eccentricity and mass were all significant (p<0.0002) except for TPFR. CONCLUSION: Left systolic intraventricular contraction synchrony measured with SPECT presents an excellent correlation with systolic and diastolic functional parameters, as well as with mass and eccentricity in various cardiac conditions and ventricular dimensions.

Mourning and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: neuroendocrine implications and nutritional management

SUMMARY This article aims to make reference to some recent mourning aspects considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease, specifically the Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The objective was to describe the stress from the death of a loved one combining it to the possibility of occurrence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy through the perception of a traumatic event by the cortex, which triggers the subcortical brain circuit affecting the endocrine response. Given the growing acknowledgement of this cardiomyopathy, it is possible to contextualize the nutritional behaviours and decisions surrounding it, whose benefits must exceed the condition of temporary cardiac dysfunction and extend to food choices that have some influence in the limbic system. It is a descriptive analysis that aims to problematize the theme into reflections based on this experience, considering the foundation with the science of nutrition.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: Este artigo busca fazer referência a alguns aspectos do luto recente considerados fatores de risco para a doença cardiovascular, específicamente a cardiomiopatia de Takotsubo. Objetivou-se descrever o estresse proveniente da morte do ente querido aliando-o à possibilidade de ocorrência da cardiomiopatia de Takotsubo, mediante a percepção de um evento traumático pelo córtex que aciona o circuito cerebral subcortical tendo repercussões na resposta endócrina. Dado o crescente reconhecimento dessa cardiomiopatia, torna-se viável contextualizar as condutas nutricionais e as decisões que as norteiam, cujos benefícios devem ultrapassar a condição de disfunção cardíaca temporária e se estender às escolhas alimentares que exercem alguma influência no sistema límbico. Trata-se de uma análise descritiva que objetiva problematizar a temática em reflexões pautadas nessa vivência, considerando o alicerce com a ciência da nutrição.

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo como diagnóstico diferencial del infarto del miocardio / Tako-Tsubo Syndrome as Myocardial Infarction Differential Diagnosis

El síndrome de corazón roto, o mejor conocido mundialmente como Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo, es fácilmente confundido -por su presentación clínica- con un evento coronario agudo en mujeres posmenopáusicas. El paciente que lo padece presenta síntomas similares a un infarto agudo de miocardio: dolor torácico anginoso, cambios del segmento ST y de la onda T en las derivaciones precordiales y elevación de biomarcadores de daño miocárdico. El sello distintivo de esta rareza clínica es la disfunción sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo con discinesia transitoria de los segmentos medio apicales en ausencia de enfermedad coronaria significativa. Afortunadamente, estos pacientes tienen buen pronóstico y la recuperación total ocurre en pocos días o semanas. Se describe el caso clínico de una mujer posmenopáusica que fue atendida por infarto agudo de miocardio extenso de cara anterior; no se encontraron lesiones coronarias significativas, y la ventriculografía mostró balonamiento medioapical del ventrículo izquierdo, característico de esta entidad. La paciente tuvo una recuperación completa de la función sistólica a los dos meses de seguimiento(AU)

Broken heart syndrome, or worldwide better known as Tako-Tsubo syndrome, is easily confused with an acute coronary event in postmenopausal women because of its clinical presentation. The patient presents symptoms similar to an acute myocardial infarction: anginal chest pain, ST segment and T wave changes in precordial leads and elevation of biomarkers of myocardial damage. The hallmark of this clinical rarity is systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle with transient dyskinesia of the mid apical segments in the absence of significant coronary disease. Fortunately, these patients have a good prognosis and full recovery occurs in a few days or weeks. We describe the clinical case of a postmenopausal woman who was attended by an acute myocardial infarction of the anterior face; no significant coronary lesions were found, and ventriculography showed left ventricular midapical ballooning which is characteristic of this entity. On follow-up the patient had complete recovery of the systolic function(AU)

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.

Influence of gated myocardial perfusion imaging with different acquisition models on the assessment of left ventricular function / 生物医学工程学杂志

This paper is aimed to investigate the influence of gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) with 8- and 16-frame acquisition models on the assessment of left ventricular function. Patients prepared for stress and rest G-MPI were prospectively recruited from January 2010 to January 2011 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Two separate G-MPI studies, one with 8 and the other with 16 frames, were simultaneously acquired during a single gantry orbit using Concurrent Imaging technique. We calculated the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and volumes using the Auto Quant software. Forty-eight patients (29 men, 19 women; average age 51 +/- 16 years old) were finally analyzed. The differences in left ventricular EF between 8- and 16-frame were small: 3.27% (95% CI: 6.41%-0.12%) for post-stress and 3.13% (95% CI: 5.93%-0.32%) for rest. Both using 8 and 16 frames, there were significantly larger volumes and lower EF in patients with stress-induced ischemia than without. As for detecting left ventricular EF, 8-frame and 16-frame acquisition models should not be mutually alternated.

Mid-Septal Hypertrophy and Apical Ballooning; Potential Mechanism of Ventricular Tachycardia Storm in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Medically refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm can be controlled with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), however, it may be difficult to control in some patients with hemodynamic overload. We experienced a patient with intractable VT storm controlled by hemodynamic unloading. The patient had mid-septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) back-up. Because of the severe mid-septal hypertrophy, his left ventricle (LV) had an hourglass-like morphology and showed apical ballooning; the focus of VT was at the border of apical ballooning. Although we performed VT ablation because of electrical storm with multiple ICD shocks, VT recurred 1 hour after procedure. As the post-RFCA monomorphic VT was refractory to anti-tachycardia pacing or ICD shock, we reduced the hemodynamic overload of LV with beta-blockade, hydration, and sedation. VT spontaneously stopped 1.5 hours later and the patient has remained free of VT for 24 months with beta-blockade alone. In patients with VT storm refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs or RFCA, the mechanism of mechano-electrical feedback should be considered and hemodynamic unloading may be an essential component of treatment.

Diffuse Hepatic Hemangiomatosis without Extrahepatic Involvement in an Adult Patient

We report an extremely rare case of a diffuse hepatic hemangiomatosis without extrahepatic involvement in an adult. The imaging findings of this tumor were similar to those of a hepatic hemangioma and included contrast enhancement with a centripetal filling pattern of the entire hepatic tumor on the delayed phase of a dynamic CT and inhomogeneous diffuse uptake of the entire tumor on blood-pool images obtained five hours later on a 99mTc-labeled red blood cell scan. Despite its rarity, diffuse hepatic hemangiomatosis can be suggested in adult patients with diffusely involved hepatic tumors showing the radiological findings of a hepatic hemangioma.

Utilidad del gatillado precoz en SPECT de percusión miocárdica con tecneciados y vasodilatadores: problemas inherentes y análisis de experiencia preliminar local / Usefulness of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging with technetium and vasodilators

En enfermedad coronaria (EC) severa por disfunción transitoria del ventrículo izquierdo (VI) se puede observar dilatación cavitaria e incremento en la captación pulmonar del radiofármaco mediante imágenes de perfusión miocárdica, descrito inicialmente con 201Talio en estrés. La isquemia inducida por dipiridamol (DIP) que es controvertida, en cuanto a su mecanismo, también puede disminuir la función sistólica. La fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (FEVI) post estrés puede no pesquisar esta alteración, dependiendo del momento de inicio de la adquisición gatillada. Hay diversas publicaciones al respecto con diferentes resultados. Objetivos: Evaluar la correlación de parámetros funcionales del VI e isquemia en SPECT gatillado precoz usando perfusión miocárdica en pacientes referidos para evaluación de EC. Además, se decidió revisar ampliamente las dificultades del protocolo. Método: De 158 pacientes evaluados inicialmente, se excluyó 31 por ciento por presencia de actividad extra cardiaca que interfería con la delimitación automática de bordes. El grupo analizado incluyó 109 sujetos entre 33 y 91 años (promedio 64,3 + - 11,7), 52 por ciento de mujeres. Treinta de ellos con EC conocida; 18 con infarto de miocardio y 31 con isquemia en imágenes de perfusión. El estudio tomográfico SPECT 99mTc-Sestamibi fue efectuado durante los 60 min post DIP, con protocolo de 1 día. Se usó programa Cedars QGS y QPS para FEVI, volúmenes y cálculo de dilatación isquémica transitoria (DIT) en imágenes de fin de diástole. También se calculó índice pulmón/corazón (IPC) de imágenes SPECT. Resultados: El lapso promedio entre inyección estrés y adquisición fue 27 min (rango: 18-43). No hubo diferencia significativa entre FEVI post DIP y reposo (66,55 + -17,33 por ciento versus 67,58 + - 18,41 por ciento, con delta FEVI: 1,03 + - 6,72 por ciento). Tampoco hubo correlación de los parámetros analizados en globo según presencia de isquemia, infarto o EC. Sólo se encontró diferencias...

Using myocardial perfusion studies, severe coronary artery disease (CAD) with left ventricular dysfunction could be observed through transient cavity dilation and radiopharmaceutical lung uptake increase, described initially with stress 201Tl. Dipyridamole (DIP) induced ischemia also can diminish systolic function. Delayed post stress left ventricular ejection fraction (FEVI) may not be able to detect this phenomena, depending on the acquisition timing. There are diverse reports and results in this issue. Goal: Evaluate the correlation between left ventricular parameters and ischemia presence in early gated DIP tomography in patients referred for CAD evaluation along to review the new protocol difficulties.Methods: From 158 patients evaluated initially, 31% presenting extra-cardiac activity were excluded due to interference with automatic edge detection. The analyzed group included 109 subjects between 33 and 91 years, mean age 64.3 ± 11.7; 52% women. Thirty of them were known CAD patients; 18 with myocardial infarction and 31 with ischemia in perfusion images. 99mTc-Sestamibi SPECT was carried out during the 60 min post DIP infusion, using 1 day protocol. Cedars QGS QPS Programs were used to measure LVEF and left ventricular volumes. Diastolic transient ischemic dilation (TID) calculation was performed as well as lung/heart index (LHR). Results: The mean time lapse between DIP injection and acquisition was 27 min (range: 18-43 min). There was not significant difference between DIP and rest LVEF (66.55±17.33% vs 67.58±18.41%) LVEF delta was 1.03±6.72%. There was not correlation observed between measured functional parameters and presence of ischemia, infarction or known CAD. There was clear difference in left ventricular volumes in patients with and without CAD and known myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Nor association between LHR, LVEF delta or TID and ischemia was demonstrated in early post DIP...

Diferenças relacionadas ao sexo nos volumes ventriculares e na fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo estimados por cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica: comparação entre os programas Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) e Segami / Gender differences in ventricular volumes and left ventricle ejection fraction estimated by myocardial perfusion imaging: comparison of Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) and Segami software programs

OBJETIVO: Analisar as diferenças relacionadas ao sexo nas medidas obtidas pelos programas Segami e Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS). MÉTODOS: Cento e oitenta e um indivíduos assintomáticos sem evidência de cardiopatia foram submetidos a estudos de perfusão miocárdica. O volume diastólico final (VDF), volume sistólico final (VSF) e a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) foram quantificados pelos programas QGS and Segami para avaliar a influência do sexo, idade, peso, altura, freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica, pressão arterial diastólica, índice de massa corporal e área de superfície corporal. RESULTADOS: As médias obtidas com o método QGS foram VDF (mulheres = 68 ml; homens = 95 ml; p < 0,001) e FEVE (mulheres = 66,24 por cento; homens = 58,7 por cento), e com o Segami, VDF (mulheres = 137 ml; homens = 174 ml) e FEVE (mulheres = 62,67 por cento; homens = 58,52 por cento). Foram observadas diferenças significantes entre homens e mulheres no VDF (p < 0,001) e VSF (p < 0,001), que persistiram após o ajuste em relação à área de superfície corporal. CONCLUSÃO: Os volumes ventriculares foram significantemente menores e a FEVE foi significantemente maior em mulheres, de acordo com os programas QGS e Segami.

OBJECTIVES: To test for gender differences in the measurements obtained by Segami and Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software programs. METHODS: 181 asymptomatic individuals without heart disease were submitted to myocardial perfusion imaging. End-diastolic volumes (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by QGS and Segami software programs to evaluate the influence of gender, age, weight, height, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and body surface area. RESULTS: The means in the QGS method were: EDV (women= 68 ml; men= 95 ml; p<0.001), LVEF (women= 66.24 percent; men= 58, 7 percent) and Segami: EDV (women= 137 ml; men= 174 ml), LVEF (women= 62.67 percent; men= 58, 52 percent). There were significant differences between men and women in the EDV (p<0.001), ESV (p<0.001) and LVEF (p=0.001) that persisted after adjusting for body surface area. CONCLUSION: Ventricular volumes were significantly lower and LVEF was significantly higher in women, estimated by QGS or Segami software programs.

A method of calculating left ventricular functional parameter using gated SPECT myocardial imaging / 生物医学工程学杂志

Based on the half sphere-cylinder myocardial model, a quantitative calculating method of gated SPECT myocardial infraction of the left ventricular functional parameters is proposed. To overcome the shortage of the ellipse model and other normal methods, this method uses the half sphere-cylinder myocardial model and its subarea. The experiment result shows that the data from normal men accord very well with those reported in domestic and international literature. The result from use in the case of left ventricular myocardial infarction is also satisfactory. Therefore, this method is of high value clinically.

Researches of the left ventricle model and optimization arithmetic based on myocardial radionuclide tomographic images / 生物医学工程学杂志

In this paper are presented and recommended the researches of the left ventricle model and optimization arithmetic based on myocardial radionuclide tomographic images (SPECT and PET). We adopted the hemispheric-cylindrical myocardial model which was largely used in quantitative analysis of myocardium. Then we adopted the radionuclide maximum counts method in LV myocardium and used the Powell optimization arithmetic to fit the myocardial model. Comparing the result from the adopted method against that of the doctors' diagnosis, we found the rate of high relevancy being 83.2%.

Niveles de lípidos en sangre y SPECT de perfusión miocárdica en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 asintomáticos / Lipid levels in blood and myocardial perfusion SPECT in asymptomatic diabetic type 2 patients

Se estudiaron 31 pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 asintomáticos, mediante SPECT, coronariografía y exámenes de laboratorios, para determinar la relación entre los niveles de lípidos en sangre y los resultados del SPECT. Se realizó el análisis estadístico clasificando los pacientes en dos grupos (SPECT positivo y SPECT negativo). El 35,5 por ciento de los pacientes mostraron SPECT positivo y 64,5 por ciento SPECT negativo. Existió buena correlación Coronariografía-SPECT. Se evidenció asociación significativa entre niveles bajos de HDLc y resultados positivos en el SPECT. El modelo de regresión logística mostró un incremento de la capacidad para pronosticar un SPECT positivo si se utiliza los valores de HDLc. Conclusión: La presente investigación demostró una asociación significativa entre los niveles bajos de HDLc en sangre y los resultados positivos del SPECT. Los valores bajos de HDLc pudieran predecir la posibilidad de un SPECT positivo en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 asintomáticos.

Evaluación de las alteraciones de la perfusión miocárdica y función ventricular derecha con SPECT y ecocardiografía en la transposición corregida de las grandes arterias / Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and right ventricular function alterations by SPECT and echocardiography after great arteries corrected transposition

Antecedentes: La transposición corregida de grandes arterias (TCGA) es una cardiopatía congénita rara, asociada a disfunción ventricular derecha. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar por técnicas de medicina nuclear como la ventriculografía en equilibrio y SPECT sincronizado utilizando Tc-99m sestamibi reposo-esfuerzo, la función y perfusión del ventrículo derecho en pacientes adultos con TCGA no operados y comparar los resultados con el ecocardiograma convencional (ETT) y de contraste (EC). Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 13 pacientes a quienes se les realizó ventriculografía con radioisótopos para evaluar la función ventricular derecha y SPECT sincronizado para estudiar la perfusión y función del ventrículo derecho. Los resultados obtenidos se compararon con el ETT y EC. Resultados: La fracción de expulsión ventricular derecha calculada por ventriculografía tuvo correlación de 0.67 (p = 0.059) con la fracción de acortamiento de áreas y de 0.84 (p = 0.01) para el método de descenso del anillo tricuspídeo. Conclusiones: El EC y SPECT sincronizado son métodos de gran utilidad en el estudio de la perfusión miocárdica del ventrículo derecho en pacientes en el que dicho ventrículo se comporta como sistémico. El índice de concordancia diagnóstica entre estas dos técnicas obtenido fue de 0.76 (p = 0.005) para identificar defectos fijos y 0.68 (p = 0.009) para defectos reversibles.

BACKGROUND: Great arteries corrected transposition is a rare congenital heart disease associated with right ventricle dysfunction. The objective of this study was to assess by equilibrium ventriculography (EV) and gated SPECT with Tc-99m sestamibi rest-stress protocol, right ventricle function and perfusion in adult patients with CTGA without previous surgery, and to compare the results with the standard transthoracic cross-sectional (TTE) and color coded Doppler echocardiography (CE) techniques. METHODS: We studied 13 patients, who underwent ventriculography to assess right ventricle function and gated SPECT to evaluate myocardial perfusion and right ventricle function. The data obtained were compared with TTE and CE. RESULTS: Right ventricle ejection fraction was measured using nuclear medicine and showed a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.67 (p = 0.059) with the shortening area fraction and 0.84 (p = 0.01) with the tricuspid ring descendent method. CONCLUSIONS: Gated SPECT and Echo contrast are extremely valuable methods in the assessment of myocardial perfusion of the right ventricle in this group of patients. The diagnostic agreement index of both studies was 0.76 (p = 0.005) to identify non-reversible defects and 0.68 (p = 0.009) for reversible defects.

Impact of operator on determining functional parameters of nuclear medicine procedures

The study was designed to assess the significance of the interoperator variability in theestimation of functional parameters forfour nuclear medicine procedures. Three nuclear medicine technologists with varying years of experience processed the following randomly selected 20 cases with diverse functions of each study type: renography, renal cortical scans, myocardial perfusion gated single-photon emission computed tomography [MP-GSPECT] and gated blood pool ventriculography [GBPV]. The technologists used the same standard processing routines and were blinded to the results of each other. The means of the values and the means of differences calculated case by case were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The values were further analyzed using Pearson correlation. The range of the mean values and standard deviation of relative renal function obtained by the three technologists were 50.65 +/- 3.9 to 50.92 +/- 4.4% for renography, 51.43 +/- 8.4 to 51.55 +/- 8.8% for renal cortical scans, 57.40 +/- 14.3 to 58.30 +/- 14.9% for left ventricular ejection fraction from MP-GSPECT and 54.80 +/- 12.8 to 55.10 +/- 13.1% for GBPV. The difference was not statistically significant, p > 0.9. The values showed a high correlation of more than 0.95. Calculated case by case, the mean of differences +/- SD was found to range from 0.42 +/- 0.36% in renal cortical scans to 1.35 +/- 0.87% in MP-GSPECT with a maximum difference of 4.00%. The difference was not statistically significant, p >0.19. The estimated functional parameters were repro ducible and operator independent as long as the standard processing instructions were followed

Comparison of gated blood pool ventriculography with echocardiography and contrast ventriculography for left ventricular ejection fraction determination in post myocardial infarction patients

Obective: We compared the efficacy of gated blood pool [GBP] ventriculography with echocardiography and contrast ventriculography for measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] in patients with myocardial infarction. Gated blood pool ventriculography [invivo technique] and echocardiography were performed in 30 patients at least after 24 hours but within 48 hours of contrast ventriculography. Echocardiographic methods included: [1] Subjective [visual] estimation of LVEF from 2 dimensional [2D] echocardiography. [2] 2D directed M-mode [Cubed method] echocardiography. Single plane cine ventriculographic ejection fractions were calculated using Dot calibration method. The comparison of GBP ventriculographic LVEF with contrast ventriculographic LVEF and 2D echo estimated LVEF revealed no significant difference in their mean ejection fraction [44.04 +/- 11.93 vs 48.46 +/- 12.78% p = NS] and [44.04 +/- 11.93 vs 47.38 +/- 13.06%, p= NS] respectively, while comparison of GBP LVEF with 2D directed M-mode [cubed method] echocardiography revealed highly significant difference in their mean EF [44.04 +/- 11.93 vs 61.7 +/- 15.65%, p < 0.01]. GBP LVEF has statistically significant correlation with contrast ventriculographic [r = 0.86] and 2D echo estimated [r = 0.77] LVEF, while has poor correlation [r = 0.57] with cubed formula from 2D echo. GBP ventriculography can be utilized accurately for determination of ejection fraction in post myocardial infarction patients for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation

Left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] determination in post myocardial infarction patients. A comparison of gated blood pool [GBP] ventriculography and contrast ventriculography

To compare the efficacy of gated blood pool versus contrast ventriculography [Gold standard] for determination of ejection fraction in post myocardial infarction patients. Patients and Gated blood pool imaging [BPI] was performed by gated blood pool radionuclide ventriculography or MUGA in 30 patients within 48 hours after single plane [RAO-30] contrast ventriculography. Statistical analysis was done by student "t-test" [unpaired] and by Pearson's correlation co-efficient. Result: There was no significance difference in their mean ejection fraction [44.04 +/- 11.93 Vs 48.46 ' 12.78%, P = NS] and has statistically significant correlation [r=0.86, P=0.171] GBP ventriculography can therefore be utilized accurately for determination of ejection fraction for prognostic and diagnostic evaluation of post myocardial infarction patients