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IMAGE INTERPRETATION · CARDIAC IMAGING

Gated SPECT: Ejection Fraction and Ventricular Volumes

Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT — cardiac function assessment
Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT — cardiac function assessment

CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sincefalastrum / Wikimedia Commons · source file

Question

Gated SPECT MPI acquires cardiac images in synchronization with the ECG to provide functional information. Which of the following parameters can be measured from gated SPECT?

  1. ACoronary artery calcium score
  2. BPulmonary artery pressure
  3. CLeft ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and regional wall motion
  4. DDiastolic filling rates only
Show the answer and explanation

C. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and regional wall motion

Gated SPECT synchronizes image acquisition to the patient's ECG R-wave, dividing the cardiac cycle into typically 8 or 16 frames. From these frames, automated software can calculate: (1) LVEF from end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes; (2) regional wall motion and wall thickening; (3) end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV). This functional information is valuable for: distinguishing true perfusion defects from attenuation artifacts (wall motion is normal in artifacts), prognosis (LVEF < 45% predicts higher risk), and detecting hibernating myocardium. Coronary calcium scoring and PA pressure require different studies.

More cardiac imaging images

Myocardial perfusion SPECT — anterior and apical defectLAD Territory Perfusion Defect on SPECT Myocardial perfusion SPECT — multiple territory defectsMultivessel Coronary Disease on Stress MPI Cardiac SPECT — supine vs. prone imaging comparisonProne Imaging in Cardiac SPECT Myocardial perfusion SPECT — right ventricle visualizationProminent Right Ventricle on MPI: RV Hypertrophy Myocardial perfusion scan — dobutamine stress protocolDobutamine Stress for Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Myocardial perfusion imaging — comparison of SPECT and PETPET vs SPECT MPI: Absolute Myocardial Blood Flow
← Vasodilator Stress Contraindications: Caffeine and BronchospasmLAD Territory Perfusion Defect on SPECT →

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