Value of rest thallium-201/technetium-99m sestamibi scans and dobutamine echocardiography for detecting myocardial viability

Am J Cardiol. 1993 Jan 15;71(2):166-72. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(93)90733-s.

Abstract

The relation between radioisotopic and echocardiographic markers of myocardial viability and postrevascularization recovery of function is still to be defined. To this purpose, 14 patients (11 men, 3 women, aged 35 to 64 years, mean 54 +/- 7) with ventricular dysfunction were studied by a multiparametric approach. Each patient underwent, on separate days, rest thallium-201 and technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy, dobutamine echocardiography and coronary angiography. Coronary angiography was analyzed by a quantitative approach. Thallium uptake at rest was quantified from planar early (10-minute) and delayed (16-hour) thallium-201 images and expressed as a percentage of maximal activity in each projection using a 13-segment model. Sestamibi uptake was expressed in the same way. Dobutamine (up to 10 micrograms/kg/min) echocardiography was analyzed using a score index ranging from 1 (normokinesia) to 4 (dyskinesia) and a similar segmental model. Before revascularization 50 segments were grouped as normal (coronary stenosis < 50% and normal function, group 1); of the remaining 132 segments with > 50% coronary stenosis, 57 had normal wall motion (group 2) and 75 showed regional dyssynergies (group 3). Early and delayed thallium-201 regional percent activities did not differ in group 1 and in group 2 but were significantly less in group 3 segments. Sestamibi percent activity was more in group 1 and significantly reduced both in group 2 and 3 segments. Segments with improved wall motion after dobutamine had more early, delayed thallium-201 and sestamibi percent activities than unresponsive segments. Postrevascularization echocardiography was performed in all patients. Delayed thallium-201 scans and dobutamine echocardiography showed good sensitivity and specificity in detecting viable myocardium. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography
  • Dobutamine
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Thallium Radioisotopes

Substances

  • Thallium Radioisotopes
  • Dobutamine
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi