[1 year's experiences with the 201 thallium myocardial scintigraphy for the evaluation of coronary circulation disorders]

Abstract

68 patients with a history of angina pectoris (AP) and/or myocardial infarction, 35 patients with atypical chest pain and 27 healthy volunteers underwent 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging (201Tl-MPI). In a preselected group of 71 patients with coronary arteriograms, sensitivity was 98.3% and specificity 71%. In patients with AP and positive exercise ECG, 201 Tl-MPI only serves to confirm the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) (46 pathological 201Tl-MPI of 47 patients). Perfusion defects are a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of CAD in patients with AP and normal or uninterpretable exercise ECG (20 of 21 patients), and in those with atypical chest pain and positive or uninterpretable exercise ECG (25 of 39 patients). A negative 201Tl-MPI virtually rules out CAD.