Evaluation of thallium myocardial-perfusion imaging by means of washout parametric images: a simulation study

A method for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion with 201Tl scintigraphic images is presented. The method is based on making a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the stress and the redistribution images aligned by using bidimensional correlation techniques between the nonpathologic regions of the myocardium. The comparison is made by means of parametric images of the washout, which are evaluated by calculating separately the mean values in the normal and the abnormal regions. The study is carried out on controlled models that contain myocardium, an artifact, and noise. The results show the suitability of the method and confirm the validity of its application to individualized studies of clinical interest.