NEW APPROACH OF QUANTITATIVE NUCLEAR CARDIAC PERFUSION ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Objective: to develop and implement a new processing approach of myocardial perfusion images obtained by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Material and methods. 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension underwent gated rest-stress perfusion SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI with CT-attenuation correction. Images were processed manually, with separate reorientation and semi-automatic contouring of both ventricles. MIBI intensity ratio in the right and left ventricles (RV/LV) was calculated using novel volumetric method, in comparison with other described approaches. Results. In patients with PH myocardial perfusion SPECT revealed abnormal RV visualization, dilation and reduced contractility, paradoxical motion and typical perfusion defects of interventricular septum. RV contouring in semi-automatic mode was possible in 100% of cases. The average values of RV/LV ratio in PH patients and normal group was 0.6097 ± 0.0090 and 0.2750 ± 0.0355, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion. The new method of quantitative calculation of perfusion impairments allows to reveal the features of myocardial perfusion of the right and left ventricles in patients with pulmonary hypertension, with the potential to assess therapy effectiveness in these patients.> <0.001). Conclusion. The new method of quantitative calculation of perfusion impairments allows to reveal the features of myocardial perfusion of the right and left ventricles in patients with pulmonary hypertension, with the potential to assess therapy effectiveness in these patients.

Keywords

• pulmonary hypertension
• single-photon emission computed tomography
• myocardial perfusion