Stress-only SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging: A review

• Published in: Journal of nuclear cardiology Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 1200 - 1212
• Main Authors: Gowd, B.M. Pampana, Heller, Gary V., Parker, Matthew. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Elsevier Inc 01.12.2014; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: attenuation corrections (AC); Cardiology; coronary artery disease (CAD); Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; myocardial infarction (MI); Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging - methods; Nuclear Medicine; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Protection - methods; Radiology; Review Article; single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); Stress-only myocardial perfusion (SO MPI); Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon - methods; myocardial infarction (MI); attenuation corrections (AC); coronary artery disease (CAD); single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); Stress-only myocardial perfusion (SO MPI)
• ISSN: 1071-3581; 1532-6551
• DOI: 10.1007/s12350-014-9944-y

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has enjoyed considerable success for decades due to its diagnostic accuracy and wealth of prognostic data. Despite this success several limitations such as lengthy protocols and radiation exposure remain. Advancements to address these shortcomings include abbreviated stress-only MPI (SO MPI) protocols, PET and both hardware and software methods to reduce radiation exposure and time. SO MPI has advantages in protocol time and radiation reduction with a wealth of supporting data in terms of diagnostic validity and prognostic value. Newer technologies such as attenuation correction, and advanced camera technologies have enabled SO MPI to be more efficient in reducing the time of acquisition and radiation dose and improving accuracy. This review examines the literature available, regarding accuracy, patient outcomes, implementation strategies, and newer developments associated with SO MPI.