Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
Reverse perfusion pattern in myocardial spect with 99mTc-sestaMIBI
O Schillaci1, M Tavolozza, D Di Biagio
1"Department of Biopathology and Diagnostic Imaging", "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Rationale:
The aim of our study was to investigate the myocardial perfusion deficit in rest images as compared to stress images in myocardial scintigraphy (MS).
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to investigate the reverse perfusion (RP) pattern in MS.
Methods And Results:
263 patients were enrolled in the study (72 females and 191 males; mean age 65.7 ± 9.5 years old). Mean body mass index (BMI) was of 27.6 ± 3.8 Kg/m2. 115 patients were positive for a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI). 142 patients reported a revascularization treatment (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA, cardiac stent placement, coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG). All the patients underwent MS following standard single day Stress/Rest protocol. In our series, 27 patients presented a RP pattern. We did not find statistically significant differences when considering age (p = 0.7988), sex (p = 0.0657), BMI (p = 0.8611), diabetes (p = 0.8259), dyslipidemia (p = 0.1464) or smoking status (p = 0.6829) in RP patients vs. non-RP patients. A history of MI is related to a RP pattern (p < 0.0001). A history of previous revascularization was not related with RP (p = 0.6868).
Discussion:
The result of our study suggested that RP is probably related to artifacts of various origins. Further studies are necessary especially in microvascular dysfunction or a long history of disease.

