Validation of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

The new cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) technology is a powerful tool for cardiac nuclear medicine. The increased photon counting sensitivity of camera can be used to explore novel protocols like dual isotope (rapid stress Tl-201/rest Tc-99m protocol for use with high-speed SPECT MPI). The use of dual isotope imaging is very interesting because this imaging combines the use of thallium-201 with technetium-99m agents permitting optimal image resolution and simultaneous assessment of viability, all with an exam duration of approximately 20 minutes. However, no study compares stress thallium-201/rest technetium-99m sequential dual isotope high-speed myocardial perfusion imaging versus invasive coronary angiography. The investigators report here the first validation of high-speed protocol with dual isotope for myocardial perfusion imaging using invasive coronary angiography as the standard of reference.