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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-12-2009 | Original Article

Assessment of the arterial input function for estimation of coronary flow reserve by single photon emission computed tomography: comparison of two different approaches

Authors: Giovanni Storto, Andrea Soricelli, Teresa Pellegrino, Mario Petretta, Alberto Cuocolo

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 12/2009

Abstract

Purpose

Attempts to estimate coronary flow reserve (CFR) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) tracers have been recently made. We compared two different methods for the estimation of CFR by SPECT imaging.

Methods

Fourteen patients with coronary artery disease underwent dipyridamole ^99mTc-sestamibi SPECT and intracoronary Doppler within 5 days. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was estimated by measurement of first transit counts in the right pulmonary artery (PA) and left ventricular (LV) chamber, and myocardial counts from SPECT images. Estimated CFR was expressed as the ratio of stress MBF to rest MBF.

Results

Rest and stress MBF obtained using first transit counts from PA were higher compared to that from LV chamber (rest: 1.05 ± 0.38 vs 0.87 ± 0.34 counts/pixel per s, respectively, p < 0.01 and stress: 1.34 ± 0.45 vs 0.91 ± 0.20 counts/pixel per s, respectively, p < 0.05). In the study vessels, CFR by Doppler was 1.39 ± 0.42, and SPECT CFR obtained using first transit counts from PA and LV chamber were 1.36 ± 0.43 and 1.16 ± 0.39, respectively (p across categories NS). A significant relationship between SPECT CFR obtained using first transit counts from PA and CFR by Doppler was found (r = 0.85, p < 0.001). No relationship between SPECT CFR obtained using first transit counts from LV chamber and CFR by intracoronary Doppler was observed (r = 0.43, p = NS).

Conclusion

SPECT-estimated CFR obtained using first transit counts from right PA is more accurate and correlates better with the results of intracoronary Doppler than estimated CFR obtained using arterial input function from LV chamber.

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Title: Assessment of the arterial input function for estimation of coronary flow reserve by single photon emission computed tomography: comparison of two different approaches
Authors: Giovanni Storto
Andrea Soricelli
Teresa Pellegrino
Mario Petretta
Alberto Cuocolo
Publication date: 01-12-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 12/2009
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1186-x

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Assessment of the arterial input function for estimation of coronary flow reserve by single photon emission computed tomography: comparison of two different approaches

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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