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Myocardial perfusion and left ventricular quantitative parameters obtained using gated myocardial SPECT: Comparison of three software packages

  • Original Article
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Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

The aim of the present study was to compare Emory Cardiac Toolbox, Myovation, and Quantitative Gated SPECT software regarding the automatic measurements of perfusion and functional left ventricular (LV) quantitative parameters, summed stress score (SSS), perfusion defect score, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume (ESV).

Methods and Results

99mTc-tetrofosmin gated SPECT studies were performed in 634 consecutive patients based on the one-day stress/rest protocol. Participants were divided into subgroups according to heart size (ESV cut-off value: 25 mL), perfusion (SSS >/≤3), and other patient/protocol-related factors. LVEF was categorized as normal (≥50%), mildly moderately impaired (35–49%), and severely abnormal (<35%). The concordance between the packages was good to excellent, in overall population, ESV ≤25 mL, ESV >25 mL, and SSS >3 subgroups (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs 0.73–0.93). In SSS ≤3 subgroup, the correlation was excellent for LV functional parameters, but suboptimal for perfusion variables (ICCs 0.30–0.83). LVEF categorization revealed similar variability (discordance 18.1 and 11.1% for stress/rest LVEF values, respectively). Pair comparisons demonstrated considerable differences concerning all parameters for all patient subgroups. The statistical significance of our findings by ESV and SSS classifications was evaluated.

Conclusions

Despite the significant concordance between software packages, considerable differences in mean values of myocardial perfusion and LV functional parameters were demonstrated.

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Abbreviations

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

ECTb:

Emory Cardiac Toolbox

EDV:

End-diastolic volume

ESV:

End-systolic volume

ICCs:

Intraclass correlation coefficients

LVEF:

Left ventricular ejection fraction

MPI:

Myocardial perfusion imaging

QGS:

Quantitative gated SPECT

SPECT:

Single-photon emission computed tomography

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Disclosure

The authors, S. Alexiou, P. Georgoulias, G. Angelidis, V. Valotassiou, I. Tsougos, D. Psimadas, V. Lakiotis, A. Kaspiri, D. Alexopoulos, D. Apostolopoulos, and P. Vassilakos, confirm that they have no conflict of interest to declare for this publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece

    Sotiria Alexiou MD, PhD(cand), Velissarios Lakiotis MD, PhD(cand), Agaristi Kaspiri MD, PhD(cand), Dimitrios Apostolopoulos MD, PhD & Pavlos Vassilakos MD, PhD

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, 41110, Larissa, Thessaly, Greece

    Sotiria Alexiou MD, PhD(cand), Panagiotis Georgoulias MD, PhD, George Angelidis MD, PhD(cand), Varvara Valotassiou MD, PhD, Ioannis Tsougos MSc, PhD & Dimitrios Psimadas MSc, PhD

  3. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece

    Dimitrios Alexopoulos MD, PhD, FACC, FESC

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  1. Sotiria Alexiou MD, PhD(cand)
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  2. Panagiotis Georgoulias MD, PhD
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  3. George Angelidis MD, PhD(cand)
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  7. Velissarios Lakiotis MD, PhD(cand)
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  9. Dimitrios Alexopoulos MD, PhD, FACC, FESC
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  11. Pavlos Vassilakos MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Sotiria Alexiou MD, PhD(cand).

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Alexiou, S., Georgoulias, P., Angelidis, G. et al. Myocardial perfusion and left ventricular quantitative parameters obtained using gated myocardial SPECT: Comparison of three software packages. J. Nucl. Cardiol. 25, 911–924 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-016-0730-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-016-0730-x

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