Utilization patterns of single-photon emission cardiac tomography myocardial perfusion imaging studies in a rural...

Appropriate use criteria (AUC) for single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) were revised in 2009 to include 15 new clinical scenarios. We assessed multivariable predictors and overall appropriateness of MPI studies performed in a rural tertiary care setting.

We hypothesized that appropriate utilization rates of SPECT MPI imaging in a rural tertiary care center are similar for cardiology and non cardiology providers.

We reviewed all SPECT MPI studies performed for over a 6-month period at our center. Using 67 scenarios in AUC, we categorized these studies as appropriate, inappropriate, uncertain, or unclassifiable.

Of 328 MPI studies, 287 (88%) studies were classified as appropriate, 18 (5.5%) as inappropriate, 23 (7%) as uncertain, and none as unclassifiable. Preoperative testing accounted for 44% of the inappropriate studies; 61% of uncertain tests were ordered for cardiovascular risk assessment in patients with prior normal coronary angiography or normal stress tests. The ordering provider specialty did not show any relation with appropriateness of the test (P = 0.46). Patients with inappropriate and uncertain studies were younger than patients with appropriate studies (P = 0.007).

We found that a majority of MPI studies are performed for appropriate indications regardless of ordering provider specialty. Few common scenarios accounted for the majority of the inappropriate or uncertain studies.