Three-dimensional color-modulated display of myocardial SPECT perfusion distributions accurately assesses coronary artery disease

The objective of this study was to compare visual assessment of 3-dimension al color-modulated (to counts) surface displays with visual assessment of o blique tomographic slices of myocardial SPECT perfusion distributions in th e detection and localization of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Six ty-two consecutive patients (41 men, 21 women; mean age, 61 +/- 11 y) who h ad undergone conventional dual-isotope perfusion SPECT were retrospectively chosen; 50 had undergone coronary arteriography previously, and 12 had les s than a 5% likelihood of CAD. Four readers interpreted the 3-dimensional d isplays and slices in separate sessions while unaware of the findings of pr evious readings, the interpretations of others, and the angiographic result s. The readers used a 5-point scoring system. Their average score was used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The area under the RO C curves was determined so that the ability of the 2 methods to detect and localize CAD could be compared, Results: No significant differences were fo und between visual interpretation of 3-dimensional displays and visual inte rpretation of slices. Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate that v isual interpretation of 3-dimensional displays of myocardial perfusion SPEC T distributions may someday replace visual assessment of conventional slice s without loss of diagnostic accuracy.