[Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy 2012 in Germany. Results of the 6th Query]

Abstract

Aim: The working group Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine of the German Society of Nuclear Medicine presents the results of the 6th survey on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) of the reporting year 2012.

Method: 278 questionnaires (177 private practices (PP), 78 hospitals (HO), 23 university hospitals (UH)) were evaluated.

Results: MPS of 105,941 patients were reported. 95% [2005 = 80%] of MPS studies were conducted with (99m)Tc perfusion radiopharmaceuticals and only 5% with 201Tl. 79% [2009 = 76%] of the MPS were performed in PP, 15% [2009 = 17%] in HO, and 6% [2009 = 7%] in UH. Data from 108 centres which participated in all surveys from 2005 to 2012 showed an increase in MPS numbers of 4.0% (PP +6.1%, HO +18.2%, UH -18.3%). 29% of all participants (27% of PP, 31% of HO, and 26% of UH) noticed no change and 26% of all participants (28% of PP, 17% of HO and 35% of UH) an increase in their MPS requests since the 2009 query. The type of stress was pharmacological in 39% [2009 = 31%]. Of these 61% with adenosine (39% with exercise), 22% with regadenoson (51% with exercise), 14% with dipyridamole (60% with exercise), and 3% with dobutamine. Gated SPECT was performed in 73% [2009 = 56%] of all rest, in 70% [2009 = 56%] of all stress and in 67% [47%] of all stress and rest MPS. Only 36% [2009 = 33%] of the centres performed a quantification of all their studies with scores, whereas 41% [2009 = 52%] did not apply any quantification. 60% [2009 = 49%] of the MPS were requested by ambulatory care cardiologists.

Conclusion: The survey on MPS in Germany reveals a good conformity of imaging procedures with the current guideline. A positive development in MPS practice and referral can be stated. However, there is still some potential of MPS processing considering the quantitative perfusion analysis.

Keywords: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy; numerical data; statistics; utilization; utilization review.