Gated myocardial perfusion tomography for the assessment of left ventricular function and volumes: Comparison with echocardiography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular volumes and func tion by gated SPECT using different tracers and protocols in comparison wit h quantitative echocardiography. Gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy pe rmits simultaneous assessment of left ventricular perfusion, function and v olumes. Information is scanty regarding the accuracy of absolute left ventr icular volumes measurements by this technique. Methods: We performed gated SPECT and echocardiography within 15 d of each other in 109 consecutive pat ients (53 men, 56 women; mean age 63 +/- 14 y). Gated tomographic data, inc luding left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction, were processed using an automatic algorithm, whereas echocardiography used standard techniques: Results: The correlations between gated tomography and echocardiography wi th respect to end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and left ventricula r ejection fraction were good to excellent (all P < 0.001, r values greater than or equal to 0.68), regardless of the use of poststress or rest/redist ribution images, Tl-201 or Tc-99m tracers. End-systolic volume was similar with gated tomography and echocardiography (P = ns), but end-diastolic volu me and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly higher with ec hocardiography (P less than or equal to 0.05). Conclusion: Quantitative gat ed tomography, using either Tl-201 or Tc-99m tracers, has a good correlatio n with echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction. These results support the clinical use of this new techn ique.