Circumferential profile analysis is one of quantitative analyses in 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy. We compared the detectability of coronary artery stenosis between 4 various methods of circumferential profiles (peak point method, all points method, 3 points around the peak method and average method) based on short-axial images of 201Tl myocardial single photon emission computed tomography. Diagnostic criteria for coronary artery stenosis was that the circumferential profile curve of a patient was below the normal limit (mean—2SD) obtained from 23 normal volunteers in more than serial 3 profiles. After examining 16 patients with coronary artery stenosis demonstrated by coronary arteriography, it was concluded that both peak point method and 3 points around the peak method surpassed other methods in the detectability of clinically significant coronary artery stenosis.
