Objective: Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and end systolic volume (ESV) are measures of cardiac function that are frequently reported from gated myocardial perfusion SPECT. However, the correlation of EF and ESV gSPECT measurements and their relative significance for normal and infarcted myocardium has not previously been published.
Method: Gated SPECT studies with normal perfusion and no known cardiac disease (NORM, n=127); normal perfusion, but clinical diagnosis of MI (MIND, n=39); fixed defect consistent with MI and a diagnosis of MI (MIFD, n=110) were selected. Patients were imaged with a two day stress-rest 400MBq technetium-99m Tetrofosmin protocol. The QGS software package was used to calculate EF and ESV.
Results: There was a strong correlation between EF and log10(ESV) for NORM, MIND and MIFD study groups (r=0.89, 0.88 and 0.94). The data for the three groups as a whole was also highly correlated (r=0.95). The logarithmic relationship demonstrates that EF is more sensitive than ESV to functional changes when function is normal. Although the relationship suggests that ESV is more sensitive in the presence of dysfunction, the advantage is outweighed by increased ESV measurement errors.
Conclusion: The EF, rather than ESV, should be reported for patients with and without cardiac dysfunction due to MI.
Peace RA, Lloyd JJ. The correlation of ejection fraction and end systolic volume in gated SPECT: should we report one or both? BNMS annual meeting, Manchester. Nucl Med Commun 2006;27:292.
Dr. Richard Peace RVI Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161 Fax: +44 (0)191-226-0970 E-mail: webmaster@rmpd.org.uk Web: http://www.rmpd.org.uk
By using this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use. Please read our legal page.
Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Copyright ©1999-2008 All Rights Reserved. Revised 28 April, 2008.
