BREAST ARTIFACT IN PLANAR CARDIAC IMAGING - A COMPARISON OF TL-201 TOSESTAMIBI-TC-99M

Breast artifact occurrence during Tl-201 myocardial image interpretati on is a significant problem. We serially evaluated 3 female patients u tilizing exercise treadmill perfusion studies in order to assess the p otential role of Tc-99m-Sestamibi (MIBI) imaging in the setting of doc umented Tl-201 breast artifact. Both visual and quantitative analyses revealed no superiority of Tc-99m-MIBI over Tl-201 imaging in referenc e to avoidance of breast artifact. The variation in artifactual cardia c imaging defects in the 3 patients most probably reflected variations in breast positioning. Finally, the ability to assess ventricular wal l motion via gated Tc-99m-MIBI imaging may help to confirm an artifact ual versus an actual myocardial perfusion abnormality.