The Feasibility, Tolerability, Safety, and Accuracy of Low-radiation Dynamic Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion...

Computed tomography (CT) myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) with hyperemia induced by regadenoson was evaluated for the detection of myocardial ischemia, safety, relative radiation exposure, and patient experience compared with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging.

Twenty-four patients (66.5 y, 29% male) who had undergone clinically indicated SPECT imaging and provided written informed consent were included in this phase II, IRB-approved, and FDA-approved clinical trial. All patients underwent coronary CT angiography and CT-MPI with hyperemia induced by the intravenous administration of regadenoson (0.4 mg/5 mL). Patient experience and findings on CT-MPI images were compared to SPECT imaging.

Patient experience and safety were similar between CT-MPI and SPECT procedures and no serious adverse events due to the administration of regadenoson occurred. SPECT resulted in a higher number of mild adverse events than CT-MPI. Patient radiation exposure was similar during the combined coronary computed tomography angiography and CT-MPI (4.4 [2.7] mSv) and SPECT imaging (5.6 [1.7]  mSv) (P-value 0.401) procedures. Using SPECT as the reference standard, CT-MPI analysis showed a sensitivity of 58.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.7-84.8), a specificity of 100% (95% CI: 73.5-100), and an accuracy of 79.1% (95% CI: 57.9-92.87). Low apparent sensitivity occurred when the SPECT defects were small and highly suspicious for artifacts.

This study demonstrated that CT-MPI is safe, well tolerated, and can be performed with comparable radiation exposure to SPECT. CT-MPI has the benefit of providing both complete anatomic coronary evaluation and assessment of myocardial perfusion.