New reconstruction algorithm allows shortened acquisition time for myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Imaging Technology

Background:

• Current research in radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) focuses on reducing scan time and radiation dose while preserving image quality.
• Iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms are key to improving SPECT MPI efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a novel iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm for SPECT MPI.
• To assess if shortened acquisition time (HALF time) maintains image quality compared to standard full-time acquisition (FULL time).

Main Methods:

• 50 patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent SPECT MPI using 99mTc-Tetrofosmin.
• Standard (FULL time: 15 min stress/15 min rest) and shortened (HALF time: 9 min stress/7 min rest) scans were acquired sequentially.
• Scans were reconstructed using IR, with HALF time scans processed by a dedicated algorithm, and analyzed with/without attenuation correction (AC).

Main Results:

• HALF time scans achieved 96% readout and 100% clinical diagnosis concordance with FULL time scans.
• High correlations for myocardial uptake were observed (stress r=0.87, rest r=0.89) with narrow Bland-Altman limits.
• Similar correlations and limits were found after X-ray based attenuation correction.

Conclusions:

• The new IR algorithm enables SPECT MPI acquisition in half the standard scan time.
• Image quality and clinical diagnostic accuracy are maintained with the shortened protocol.
• This validates the IR algorithm for efficient and reliable SPECT MPI.