• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 1997

Gated SPECT can evaluate the regional wall motion of the heart. We evaluated the regional wall motion of the perfusion abnormality in conventional perfusion SPECT with gated SPECT. In case of suspicious perfusion abnormalities, we tried to differentiate the artifact from true abnormality in coronary vascular disease using gated SPECT. We thought that artifacts would have normal wall motion, whereas fixed defects with decreased wall motion would probably represent coronary artery disease. A total of 275 patients who were performed coronary angiography and T1-201 rest/Tc-99m MIBI dipyridamole stress gated SPECT within 2 months were enrolled. In coronary angiography, stenosis more than 50% was considered as coronary artery disease. After injection of 111MBq T1-201 rest image was obtained on triple head SPECT system. 370MBg Tc-99m MIBI was used for the stress image. Eight-frame per-cardiac-cycle gated Tc-99m SPECT studies were done. All the images were analyzed visually. Using perfusion SPECT, the overall sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 55% respectively. Regarding artery territory, sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 73% for left anterior descending artery(LAD), 62% and 78% for right coronary artery(RCA), 42% and 90% for left ciramflex artery(LCX). Using gated SPECT, the overall sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 66% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 78% for LAD, 62% and 79% for RCA, 42% and 90% for LCX. Among 21 false positive cases in perfusion SPECT, 5 cases were interpreted as true negative with gated SPECT. We conclude that gated SPECT provides a valuable adjunct to perfusion SPECT in characterizing perfusion abnormalities and to improve specificity.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2006

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a critical disease with higher rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to myocardial ischemia and infarction. There is glowing interest in how to determine high-risk patients who are candidates for screening testing. This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients detected by Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) and to assess risk factors of CAD and cardiac hard events. Subjects and Methods: 203 diabetic patients (64 male, mean age $64.1{\pm}9.0$ years) who underwent MPS were included between Jan 2000 and July 2004. Cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) were considered as hard events, and coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery >60 days after testing were considered as soft events. The mean follow-up period was $36{\pm}18$ months. Patients underwent exercise (n=6) or adenosine stress (n=197) myocardial perfusion SPECT. Results: Perfusion defects on MPS were detected in 28.6% (58/203) of the patients. There was no cardiac death but 11 hard events were observed. The annual cardiac hard event rate was 1.1%. In univariate analysis of clinical factors, typical anginal pain, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, and resting ECG abnormality were significantly associated with the ocurrence of hard events. Anginal pain, peripheral vascular disease, and resting ECG abnormality remained independent predictors of nonfatal MIs with multivariate analysis. Abnormal SPECT results were significantly associated with high prevalence of hard events but not independent predictors on uni- and multivariate analyses. Conclusion: Patients who were male, had longer diabetes duration (especially over 20 years), peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, or resting ECG abnormality had higher incidence of CAD. Among clinical factors in diabetic patients, typical angina, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral polyneuropathy, and resting ECG abnormality were strong predictors of hard events.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 1998

Purpose: $^{99m}Tc$-tetrofosmin(TF) is a recently proposed myocardial imaging agent which has similar biokinetic characteristics to $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi(MIBI). The aim of this study was to compare TF and MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECTs in detecting coronary artery disease. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty patients(101 males, 59 females, mean age $57{\pm}9yr$) who had undergone both myocardial perfusion SPECT(M-SPECT) and coronary angiography within 1 month were studied. M-SPECT was performed using TF in 115 patients and MIBI in 45 patients. Stress-rest one day protocol was used in all patients. A coronary stenosis was considered significant when the luminal diameter ${\geq}$50% was compromised. The chi square test was used to compare differences in sensitivity and specificity between the two groups. Results: There was no difference in age and diseased coronary artery branches between the two groups. There were more male patients in TF group: Male-to-female ratios of TF and MIBI groups were 78:37 and 23:22, respectively(p<0.05). The overall sensitivity of TF study was 92% and specificity 36%. The overall sensitivity and specificity of MIBI study were 93% and 30%, respectively. There was no difference between TF and MIBI groups in identifying individual diseased coronary artery branches. Conclusion: One day stress-rest myocardial SPECT using either TF or MIBI was comparable and was a very sensitive test in detecting coronary artery disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. Materials and Methods: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Results: Scatter corrected studios was lower in counts by $18{\pm}3%$ than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. Conclusion: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2003

Purpose : To assess the usefulness of cardiac MR imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and in the assessment of myocardial viability in comparision with T1-201 SPECT. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively studied 17 patients who complained of chest pain and dyspnea with cardiac MRI . The patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of high signal intensity on T2-weighted image (T2wI), abnormal wall motion on 2D-FIESTA, perfusion defect on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, and delayed myocardial enhancement on 15-minutes delay Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI. The results were correlated with the images on T1-201 SPECT, taken at rest and stress, through which reversibility of perfusion defect was assessed. Results : Both cardiac MRI and T1-201 SPECT proved to be useful methods for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction. In order of decreasing correspondence, T2WI, T1-201 SPECT, delayed enhancement study, and wall motion images all showed significant statistical correlation with the clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Perfusion MRI, on the other hand, showed no significant statistical difference was found between T1-201 SPECT and cardiac MRI. The results on T2WI showed high accordance with those on Tl-201 SPECT, while delayed myocardial enhancement and wall motion studies showed no agreement with Tl-201 SPECT. Conclusion : Cardiac MRI is useful method for diagnosis of acute myocardiac infarction. With respect to the assessment of myocardial viability, the results obtained on cardiac MRI showed high agreement with those on Tl-201 SPECT. However, further study is necessary at this point for standardization and establishment of the methods for assessing myocardial viability on cardiac MRI.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of reverse redistribution(RR) phenomenon detected on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial single photon emission computed tomography(SPEG) in patients with acute myocardial infarction after revascularization. Materials and Methods: A Tc-99m tetrofrosmin myocardial SPECT was performed in 67 consecutive patients after revascularization for acute myocardial infarction. Myocardial SPECT imaging was performed for early imaging at 40 min and for delayed imaging at 180 min after reinjection at myocardial stress. Regional myocardial uptakes were scored by 4-point scoring in the left ventricular wall divided into 17 segments. Reverse redistribution was defined as an increase of more than 2 point in the activity score on the delayed image. Follow-up myocardial SPECT and coronary angiography(CAG) were performed 9 months later. Results: On myocardial SPECT performed following revascularization, RR was observed in 100 of all 319 segments(31%) and in 43 patients(64%). The abnormalities of perfusion and regional wall motion were more severe in the patients with RR compared to those without RR(p<0.05). On follow-up myocardial SPECT, the myocardial perfusion, regional wall motion, and myocardial thickness were significantly improved in the patients with RR(p<0.05) however, these changes were not significant in those without RR. There was no significant difference between the patients with RR and those without RR in the occurrence of restenosis on CAG. Conclusions: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the regions showing the RR phenomenon on delayed Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT may reflect viable myocardium and indicate recovery of salvaged myocardium.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.197-197
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• 1995

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

Though myocardial perfusion was usually expected to improve after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) surgery, some myocardial segments were aggravated after operation, as we compared perfusion changes on postoperative SPECT with preoperative ones. In this study, we evaluated perfusion changes after operation in rest and stress myocardial SPECT in 44 patients (M:F=25:19, age 57.1 $year{\pm}8.2$) who had CABG before and 3 months after operation. We tried to find out possible causes for perfusion aggravation with multivariate logistic regression analysis regarding whether bypass graft was artery or vein and which coronary artery territory was operated. Among 616 myocardial segments which were operated, 89(14.4%) aggravated after operation. In the univariate analysis, myocardial segments in the left circumflex arteries(LCx) aggravated more often(p<0.01) than others and segments having operative angioplasty did less often(p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that LCx was risk factor for perfusion aggravation [odds ratio=2.54 (95% confidence interval : 1.53-4.22, p<0.01)]. However, this was not the case when we analysed in terms of arterial territories. Among 106 coronary arterial territories which were operated, 27(25.5%) aggravated. The territories having aggravated had similar characteristics regarding whether they received arterial or venous grafts, angioplasty and whether the operated territories were left anterior descending, right coronary or left circumflex arteries. In conclusion, myocardial segments in the left circumflex artery tended to aggravate more often after bypass surgery than the others. In short-term comparison of perfusion after surgery, we could not find any tendency that arterial or venous graft was associated with more frequency of the aggravation of perfusion after operation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.269-277
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• 2003

목적: 게이트 심근관류 스펙트는 심근의 관류와 좌심실 기능을 동시에 평가할 수 있는 유용한 방법이다. 현재, 게이트 영상 획득시 8 단위영상이 널리 사용되지만, 아직 가장 적절한 단위영상의 수에 대해서는 논의의 여지가 있다. 본 연구는 동일한 환자에서 8 단위영상과 16 단위영상으로 게이트 심근관류 스펙트를 2회 연속적으로 시행하여 국소적 심근관류, 좌심실 용적과 구혈률등을 비교하였다. 대상 및 방법: 42명(평균 연령: 55세, 남: 녀=26: 16)의 관상동맥 질환이 의심되거나 알려진 환자를 대상으로 안정시 Tc-99m MIBI를 이용한 게이트 스펙트를 8 단위영상과 16 단위영상으로 2회 연속하여 시행하였다. 좌심실의 확장기말 용적, 수축기말 용적과 구혈률을 각각 얻었으며 확장기말의 단층영상을 18 분절로 나누고 각 분절마다 심근의 관류정도를 4등급으로 나누어 국소적 심근관류를 평가하였다. 결과: 8 단위영상과 16 단위영상 게이트 스펙트에서 국소적 심근관류의 일치도는 85.7% (tau-b=0.786, p<0.001)로 우수하였다. 두 방법간에 1등급의 차이는 100 분절(13.2%), 2등급 차이는 8 분절(1.1 %)이 있었고 3등급 차이는 없었다. 좌심실의 확장기말 용적, 수축기말 용적, 구혈률은 두 방법간에 높은 상관성을 보였으며(r=0.993, 0.989, 0.935), 좌심실 구혈률은 8 단위영상을 사용할 때 평균 1.8% 낮게 측정되어 통계적인 유의성은 있었으나(p<0.05), 그 차이는 크지 않았다. 결론: 8 단위영상과 16 단위영상을 사용한 게이트 심근관류 스펙트에서 국소적 심근관류의 일치도는 우수하였으며, 좌심실의 기능적 계수의 차이도 크지 않았다. 비록 높은 단위영상을 사용했을 때 더 정확하고 자세한 정보를 얻을 수 있다 하더라도, 구혈률과 용적 등을 얻는 일상적인 임상검사에는 8 단위영상 또한 그 역할을 충분히 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.519-525
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• 2009

Purpose: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake of myocardium is influenced by various factors. Increased glycolysis, and subsequent increased F-18 FDG uptake has been reported in ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, clinical significance of incidentally found myocardial F-18 FDG uptake has not been clarified. We retrospectively reviewed the degree and pattern of myocardial uptake in patients without history of ischemic heart disease who underwent torso F-18 FDG PET/CT for evaluation of neoplastic disease. Materials and Methods: From January 2005 to June 2009, 77 patients who underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi stress/rest SPECT within 3 months were enrolled. Results: Of 77 patients, 55 (71.4%) showed increased F-18 FDG uptake in the myocardium. In this population, 40 showed uniform uptake pattern, while 15 showed focal uptake. In patients with uniform uptake, 17 showed decreased uptake in the septum without perfusion defect on myocardial SPECT. Remaining 23 patients showed uniform uptake, with 1 reversible perfusion defect and 1 fixed perfusion defect. In 15 patients with focal uptake, 9 showed increased F-18 FDG uptake in the base, and only 1 of them showed reversible perfusion defect on myocardial SPECT. In the remaining 6 focal uptake group, 4 had reversible perfusion defect in the corresponding wall, and 1 had apical hypertrophy. Conclusion: We demonstrated that septal defect pattern and basal uptake pattern in the myocardium may represent normal variants. Focal myocardial uptake other than normal variants on oncologic torso F-18 FDG PET/CT with routine fasting protocol may suggest ischemic heart disease, thus further evaluation is warranted.