Single crystal biplane equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography: an improved planar imaging technique

Radionuclide ventriculography in the best septal view is an established method to assess both global and regional ventricular function. Additional projections may be used to delineate the wall motion of inferior myocardial segments. Radionuclide ventriculography was performed in 65 patients using both a single plane (in the best septal view) and a biplane technique. The biplane collimator allowed simultaneous assessment in two planes 40 degrees apart, allowing simultaneous visualization of all four myocardial walls. Seventeen patients with regional wall motion abnormalities were detected with the single plane best septal view and a further 18 patients with impaired wall motion were identified with the biplane collimator (51% of the abnormal ventricles). The additional abnormal segments were seen in only the steep lateral projection. Left ventricular ejection fraction estimation with the biplane technique remains highly reproducible and correlates well with that derived from the best septal view. Biplane radionuclide ventriculography improves the detection of inferior wall motion abnormalities at no expense of time, and offers the possibility of performing two-view stress ventriculography with inotropic agents.