[ECG-gated myocardial SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI in patients with right ventricular infarction]

Although 99mTc-pyrophosphate (PYP) myocardial scintigraphy has so far been widely used for the diagnosis of right ventricular infarction, PYP accumulation disappears within one week or so. To evaluate the myocardial condition of the right ventricle alternatively, myocardial SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI was performed in 16 patients with acute inferior left ventricular infarction, and ECG-gated myocardial SPECT data acquisition was accompanied in 14 of 16 patients. Right ventricular perfusion defect was observed in 4 of 16 patients (RVI (+) group), and the remains were negative (RVI (-) group). Then, right ventricular count increase rate (RV %WT) of MIBI from end-diastole to end-systole was calculated using an automated method which was developed for quantification of wall thickening in our laboratory. The RV %WT was conceived to be an objective index representing right ventricular contractility. RVI (+) group (n = 3) as compared with RVI (-) group (n = 11) had significant lower RV %WT (26.7 +/- 3.2 vs. 49.6 +/- 14.2; p < 0.01). In conclusion, ECG-gated myocardial SPECT with MIBI was considered to be useful for assessment of myocardial perfusion and contractility of right ventricle.