RADIONUCLIDE SIMULTANEOUS DUAL-ISOTOPE STRESS MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION STUDY USING THE 3 WINDOW TECHNIQUE

Several methods are available for performing radionuclide stress myoca rdial perfusion studies. All of these methods require two separate acq uisition and processing iterations, which is time-consuming and inconv enient for the patient. The authors introduce a new method using the ' 'three window technique'' that they developed to perform simultaneous dual-isotope imaging for stress myocardial perfusion studies. In addit ion to Tl-201 and Tc-99m windows centered at 70 KeV and 140 KeV, respe ctively, a third window centered at 105 KeV, representing scattered ra dioactivity from Tc-99m, is established. By subtracting the radioactiv ity in the third window from the radioactivity in the Tl-201 window, ' 'crosstalk'' interference is significantly reduced. The simultaneous d ual-isotope imaging method acquires and processes resting and stress m yocardial perfusion images simultaneously. It halves imaging time and doubles patient throughput, improves scheduling flexibility, and reduc es patient waiting time and discomfort.