18FDG SPECT to assess myocardial viability: initial experience at a hospital remote from a cyclotron

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG PET) is the reco gnized gold standard for the assessment of myocardial viability, but is not widely available in the UK. FDG imaging on a gamma camera with high-energy collimators (FDG SPECT) has been shown to have an accuracy comparable with that of FDG PET for the assessment of myocardial viability. This study was performed to assess the feasibility of introducing FDG SPECT for myocardia l viability at a hospital a considerable distance away from a cyclotron (20 0 miles). Twenty-three patients, who were being actively considered for rev ascularization but had demonstrated fixed defects on stress/rest with nitra te tetrofosmin imaging, underwent FDG SPECT. Image quality was acceptable i n all patients. Nine out of the 23 patients with defects classed as fixed o n tetrofosmin imaging demonstrated viability on FDG SPECT. Six of these nin e patients, reported to have some viable myocardium on FDG SPECT, underwent revascularization as a result. This study has demonstrated that FDG SPECT is feasible at a site some distance from a cyclotron. ((C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).