Quantitative thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography after oral dipyridamole for assessing the presence, anatomic location and severity of coronary artery disease

Methodist Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.

The objective of this investigation was to determine whether analysis of thallium-201 images as detected by quantitative single photon emission computed tomography after a single high oral dose of dipyridamole (300 mg) would accurately detect the presence of coronary artery disease and the anatomic location of the individual stenosis. Analyses were performed on 100 patients who concomitantly underwent diagnostic coronary arteriography and myocardial imaging. Tomographic myocardial perfusion defects were quantified using computer-generated polar maps. Eighty-four patients had significant coronary artery disease defined as greater than 50% luminal diameter stenosis. The sensitivity for detecting patients with coronary disease was 92% overall, 89% in patients without previous myocardial infarction and 97% in those with prior infarction. The technique had a sensitivity of 80, 87 and 51% for localizing coronary artery stenosis of the left anterior descending, the right coronary and the left circumflex artery, respectively. The corresponding specificity was 84, 92 and 92%. Furthermore, the presence of severe (greater than or equal to 70%) multivessel disease was identified with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 87%. In conclusion, quantitative thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography after oral dipyridamole has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing the presence of coronary disease, ascertaining the location of stenosed vessels and identifying the presence of multivessel disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. V. Williams, S. D. Fihn, and R. J. Gibbons Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Chronic Stable Angina: Diagnosis and Risk Stratification Ann Intern Med, October 2, 2001; 135(7): 530 - 547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Fischer, D. E Gutstein, Z. A Fayad, and V. Fuster Predicting plaque rupture: enhancing diagnosis and clinical decision-making in coronary artery disease Vascular Medicine, August 1, 2000; 5(3): 163 - 172. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. J. Gibbons, K. Chatterjee, J. Daley, J. S. Douglas, S. D. Fihn, J. M. Gardin, M. A. Grunwald, D. Levy, B. W. Lytle, R. A. O'Rourke, et al. ACC/AHA/ACP-ASIM guidelines for the management of patients with chronic stable angina: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on Management of Patients With Chronic Stable Angina) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 1, 1999; 33(7): 2092 - 2197. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z.-X. He, R. Medrano, J. T. Hays, J. J. Mahmarian, and M. S. Verani Nitroglycerin-Augmented 201Tl Reinjection Enhances Detection of Reversible Myocardial Hypoperfusion : A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial Circulation, April 1, 1997; 95(7): 1799 - 1805. [Abstract] [Full Text]