[Basic evaluation of an ambulatory ventricular function monitor with a a cadmium telluride detector]

The reliability of a new ambulatory ventricular function monitor (VEST) with cadmium telluride (Cd-Te) detector was validated. No counting loss was observed under 20 kcps. In phantom study, more than 200 ml with 6 cm distance from the detector and more than 300 ml with 6-12 cm distance, underestimation of volume was observed. Ejection fraction (EF) calculated in phantom study showed close value to the true EF in 50-400 ml of end-diastolic volume. In 10 patients, 1-2 cm detector shift toward right upper, upper and left showed underestimation of EF. Good correlation of gamma camera EF (X) and VEST EF (Y) was obtained (Y = 0.96X + 3.6(%), n = 37, r = 0.93, p less than 0.001). EF change from rest values, obtained from each comparable exercise and post exercise stage by gamma camera (X) and VEST (Y), showed good correlation (Y = 0.95X + 0.8, n = 20, r = 0.85, p less than 0.001). In conclusion Cd-Te VEST was considered as a reliable EF measurement technique similar to gamma camera.