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Quantitative assessment of thallium-201 images

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Conclusion

Since quantitative assessment of201Tl images is mainly used as an aid or a complement to visual evaluation, its usefulness may be in assessing questionable findings and in reducing observer bias rather than in establishing new diagnostic criteria. However, it is apparent that results reported from computer-assisted evaluation of left ventricular201Tl images show higher sensitivity and specificity than findings from simple visual analysis [4, 5, 9, 18]. This cumulates in a 96% sensitivity in detecting coronary heart disease [10]. Moreover, such easily derived values as left ventricular count rate have proved to be informative parameters [7, 13, 15, 26].

The difficulties involved in the use of maximal left ventricular201Tl uptake values as a reference seem to be decreased by using one201Tl injection for both rest and exercise imaging (“redistribution analysis”) [17], since the diagnosis is not made from absolute but from relative changes within a related distribution image. The problems that remain to be solved for reliable and reproducible employment of quantifying methods are: (1) determination of the correct border of the left ventricular wall (imaged in tangent) with respect to both the left ventricular cavity (imaged posterior to the en-face-viewed myocardium) and to paracardiac activity, and (2) determination of the correct background values to be subtracted. Some of these problems may be resolved by more advanced imaging techniques as, for example, computerized emission tomography.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiologische Klinik der Universität München. Klinikum Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, D-8000, München 70, Federal Republic of Germany

    U. Buell, E. Kleinhans, M. Seiderer & B. E. Strauer

  2. Poliklinik der Universität München, Medizinische Klinik I der Universität Müchen Klinikum Grosshadern, München, FRG

    U. Buell, E. Kleinhans, M. Seiderer & B. E. Strauer

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  1. U. Buell
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  3. M. Seiderer
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  4. B. E. Strauer
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Buell, U., Kleinhans, E., Seiderer, M. et al. Quantitative assessment of thallium-201 images. Cardiovasc Radiol 2, 183–193 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02552063

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