[Effect of age on visualization of right atrium by thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy]

With Thallium-201 (Tl) myocardial scintigraphy, right atrial (RA) myocardium has been visible in the disease involving the right side of the heart. We have found RA visualization in the elderly patients without the evidence of right heart disease. Therefore, we studied the relation of age to the RA visualization with Tl myocardial scintigraphy performed at rest. Planar images of 291 patients without valvular or congenital heart disease were read by two observers and classified into the three by the degree of RA visualization; RA 0 = not visualized, RA 1+ = moderately visualized, RA 2+ = intensely visualized. The results were as follows: 93.1% of under 50 y.o., 77.8% of fifties, 86.7% of sixties, 50.5% of seventies and 36.7% of over 80 y.o. showed RA 0. 6.9% of under 50 y.o., 22.2% of fifties, 8.3% of sixties, 46.5% of seventies and 36.7% of over 80 y.o. showed RA 1+. None of under 60 y.o., 5.0% of sixties, 3.0% of seventies, and 26.6% of over 80 y.o. showed RA 2+. In conclusion, RA visualization in Tl myocardial scintigraphy, suggesting right heart overload, may increase with aging.