Gated blood pool SPECT for measurement of left ventricular volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction: comparison of 8 and 16 frame gated blood pool SPECT.

UNLABELLED: Gated blood pool SPECT (GBPS) is an alternative to planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRNV) and offers potential advantages. The aim of this study was to compare 8 and 16 frame GBPS for the determination of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular volumes (LV) in subjects underwent two consecutive GBPS.

METHOD: About 66 consecutive patients (30 men, 36 women; mean age 62.3 +/- 10.4 years) referred for PRNV for evaluation of preoperative cardiac risk stratification (n = 40), prechemotherapy cardiac function evaluation (n = 18, breast cancer), and congestive heart failure patients (n = 8). All patients underwent PRNV of 16 frame and GBPS with both of 8 and 16 frame.

RESULTS: The mean LVEF calculated with PRNV (58.3 +/- 16.8), showed statistically lower than 8-GBPS (70.6 +/- 17.7), and 16-GBPS (69.9 +/- 16.8) (PRNV vs. 8-GBPS, p < 0.01; PRNV vs 16-GBPS, p < 0.01; 8-GBPS vs 16-GBPS, p > 0.05). The correlation of LVEFS between 8-GBPS and 16-GBPS showed a correlation coefficient of 0.9194 (p < 0.01, 95% CI = 0.8712-0.9500). The mean left ventricular end-diastolic volumes (EDV) calculated with 8-GBPS (83.2 +/- 33.5 ml), and 16-GBPS (88.4 +/- 36.8 ml) showed no statistical differences (p > 0.05). The mean left ventricular end-systolic volumes (ESV) calculated with 8-GBPS (28.1 +/- 31.4 ml), and 16-GBPS (30.5 +/- 33 ml) showed also no statistical differences (p > 0.05). Comparison of EDV from 8 and 16-GBPS yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.7430 (p < 0.01, 95% CI = 0.6108-0.8349). The correlation between ESV of 8-GBPS and 16-GBPS showed a correlation coefficient of 0.9522 (p < 0.01, 95% CI = 0.9228-0.9705).

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the LVEFs of 8-GBPS correlated well with that of 16-GBPS. The LVEF of PRNV was significantly lower than those of 8 and 16-GBPS. Also, left ventricular EDV and ESV of 8-GBPS correlated well with those of 16-GBPS. Also, further studies, involving large lumber patients, should be performed to validate the usefulness of GBPS for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function.