Testing Real-World Application of Appropriateness Criteria of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) In...

The American College of Cardiology pioneered appropriateness criteria for single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging in 2005 to account for evidence-based clinical relevance of stress perfusion imaging. Our aim was to assess and compare appropriateness use criteria in in Kobry al Kobba military hospital and Ain Shams University hospitals.

All patients were subjected to thorough history taking, calculation of pretest probability and Framingham risk score, determination of appropriateness use criteria and stress-rest Tc 99m imaging to detect the presence of ischemia and one day Tc 99m imaging to detect viability.

The study included 442 patients with mean age of 56.5 years, with male predominance (77%), 38% were diabetics and 58% had hypertension. Seventy-eight percent of patients had appropriate tests, uncertain tests in 12% and 10% inappropriate studies. 47% of appropriate tests show positive results of SPECT.

We concluded that appropriateness criteria are effective in identifying appropriateness of SPECT in a diverse patient population.