Myocardial perfusion imaging using adenosine triphosphate stress multi-slice spiral computed tomography: alternative to stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Abstract

Background: The present study was designed to: (i) detect myocardial ischemia in contrast enhanced multi-slice spiral computed tomography (CE-MSCT) using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) pharmacological stress test; and (ii) evaluate the potential of ATP stress CE-MSCT in a clinical setting.

Methods and results: Twelve patients underwent ATP stress CE-MSCT and stress thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and 9 of the patients received conventional coronary angiography (CAG). Dual CE-MSCT scans were performed for stress and rest images, with and without intravenous infusion of ATP (0.16 mg.kg-1.min-1) at intervals of 20 min. Myocardial perfusion and coronary artery were visually evaluated using MSCT and compared the results obtained from MPS and CAG. Of 36 territories, stress images of CE-MSCT described 26 hypo-perfusion areas and MPS described 22 redistributions. The agreement between MSCT and MPS was 83% (30/36, p<0.05). In 141 coronary artery segments of 9 patients undergoing CAG, rest images of CE-MSCT, which had significantly higher assessability than stress images (89% vs 48%, p<0.05), described 76% (13/17) of culprit coronary stenoses.

Conclusions: Although CT-angiography should be currently assessed using rest images, ATP stress CE-MSCT can describe both ATP-induced myocardial ischemia and coronary artery stenoses in patients with coronary artery disease.