Dynamic cardiac scintigraphy with a multi-imaging device

Cardiac kinetics can be visualized in two ways after i.v. injection of radiopharmaceutics for labeling either the myocardium or the cardiac chambers. The simpler way is the acquisition of the data in analog mode, using a multiimaging device. Thanks to a short time constant for the image advance, the cardiac cycle is divided into 16 frames, the first being triggered by the R wave of the ECG. The data of a large number of synchronized cycles are integrated on a film. This permits an almost continuous way to follow the kinetics of the studied compartments along the cycle. Several views can be registered successively. This procedure yields separately immediate information on the morphology and dynamics of the myocardium, and chambers. To evaluate quantitatively various parameters of left ventricular function a data processor is connected to the gamma camera. Examples of the two types of data are shown and demonstrate that both are useful for appreciating the value of kinetics though they are not yet accurate enough to replace in every case contrast radiologic techniques. Nevertheless, the indications for these procedures are continuously growing, due to technical progresses and the noninvasive nature of the investigation.