SPECT-CCTA: guiding treatment in ischaemic heart disease

Abstract

Combining myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-MPI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an interesting hybrid imaging option in modern cardiovascular medicine. The integrated hybrid technique has a number of advantages compared to visual side-by-side analysis of the separate modalities. CT attenuation map can correct for attenuation artefacts and thus improve the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT-MPI. Moreover, the anatomical information of the CCTA and the perfusion map of SPECT-MPI allow for vessel-based correlation and culprit vessel identification. Combining SPECT-MPI with CCTA is an appealing tool in the work-up of complex ischaemic heart disease and might help determine the optimal treatment strategy. This case series illustrates the role of SPECT-CCTA in decision-making of revascularization strategy in complex ischaemic heart disease.

Keywords: Ischaemic heart disease; SPECT-CCTA; coronary computed tomography angiography; hybrid imaging; single-photon emission computed tomography.