A Study of the Quantification of ²⁰¹Tl Myocardial Scintigrams of Prior Myocardial Infarctions and Their Influence on Left Ventricular Function

Abstract

²⁰¹Tl myocardial scintigraphy was performed on 25 cases of prior myocardial infarction, and based upon phantom experiments, the infarct size was quantitatively analyzed as a defect segment percentage (DS%) . DS% was compared to the left cardiac function obtained from myocardial scintigrams, RI angiocardiograms, and chest X-ray films, and the results were examined. There was a high degree of correlation between DS% and LVEF and LVEDV/ m² (r=-0.72, 0.84) . Where DS % was less than 25%, the left ventricular function was almost normal, and where DS % was greater than 25%, deterioration could clearly be seen. There was a correlation between left ventricular volume from myocardial scintigrams and heart volume from chest X-ray films.
The ²⁰¹Tl uptake in the lung field from myocardial scintigrams increased as the infarct size increased, and the uptake in the upper lungs also increased.