• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.203-209
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• 1993

Dipyridamole is an agent that may be used to noninvasively evaluate coronary artery disease. The effect of dipyridamole infusion its generally related to its induced peripheral vasodilatory effect. In normal person, heart rate is generally increased slightly while blood pressure decrease, but the achieved double product and related myocardial oxygen consumption have no significant change. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect and side effect of dipyridamle, and to compare different response to dipyridamole among the patients. We evaluated 847 patients who underwent dipyridamole stress myocardial SPECT. 93.6% of them had induced hypotension, 0.9% showed no change of blood pressure, 5.5% had increased blood pressure. 8.3% had no change of pulse rate more than 10% of basal pulse rate. Among diabetes, 16.9% was not change of pulse rate, 6.7% in non-diabetes. There was no significant correlation between age and rate pressure product rest(RPPr), in patiens without perfusion defects on SPECT(y=7.1x+ 48.4 r=0.13 p>0.01). As increasing age, RPPs/RPPr was declined(y= -11.6x+68.9 r=0.17 p<0.01), similar results were obtained in patients with perfusion defect. The size of perfusion defect on myocardial SPECT have no correlation between RPPr and RPPs/RPPr. The side effects of dipyridamole included chest pain and chest tightness, headache, abdominal pain, dizzness, nausea, and dyspnea. As increasing age, dipyridamole-induced cardiac work at rest was increased, cardiac response to dipyridamole was decreased.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

Purpose Recently, Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) semiconductor myocardial SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) has been used myocardial scintigraphy. In this study, the performance of Semiconductor SPECT and conventional SPECT systems was compared by a comprehensive analysis of phantom SPECT images. Materials and Methods Methods: We evaluated the DSPECT CZT SEPCT (Spectrum-dynamic) and INFINA conventional (GE). Physical performance was compared on reconstructed SPECT images from a phantom. Results For count sensitivity on cardiac phantom images ($counts{\cdot}sec^{-1}{\cdot}MBq^{-1}$), DSPECT had a sensitivity of conventional SPECT. This classification was similar to that of myocardial counts normalized to injected activities from phantom images (respective mean values, $counts{\cdot}sec^{-1}{\cdot}MBq^{-1}$: 195.83 and 52.83). For central spatial resolution: DSPECT, 9.47mm; conventional SPECT, 16.90mm. For contrast-to-noise ratio on the phantom: DSPECT, 4.2; conventional SPECT, 3.6. Conclusion The performance of CZT cameras is dramatically higher than that of conventional SPECT. However, CZT cameras differ in that spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio are better with conventional SPECT, whereas count sensitivity is markedly higher with the DSPECT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.288-297
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• 2002

Purpose: Soft tissue attenuation and scattering are major methodological limitations of myocardial perfusion SPECT. To overcome these limitations, algorithms for attenuation, scatter correction and resolution recovery (ASCRR) is being developed, while quantitative myocardial SPECT has also become available. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of an ASCRR-corrected quantitative myocardial SPECT method for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: Seventy-five patients (M:F=51:24, $61.0{\pm}8.9$ years old) suspected of CAD who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) within $7{\pm}12$ days of SPECT(Group-I) and 20 subjects (M:F=10:10, age $40.6{\pm}9.4$) with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease (Group-II) were enrolled. Tl-201 rest/ dipyridamole-stress Tc-99m-MIBI gated myocardial SPECT was performed. ASCRR correction was peformed using a Gd-153 line source and automatic software (Vantage-Pro; ADAC Labs, USA). Using a 20-segment model, segmental perfusion was automatically quantified on both the ASCRR-corrected and uncorrected images using an automatic quantifying software (AutoQUANT; ADAC Labs.). Using these quantified values, CAD was diagnosed in each of the 3 coronary arterial territories. The diagnostic performance of ASCRR-corrected SPECT was compared with that of non-corrected SPECT. Results: Among the 75 patients of Group-I, 9 patients had normal CAG while the remaining 66 patients had 155 arterial lesions; 61 left anterior descending (LAD), 48 left circumflex (LCX) and 46 right coronary (RCA) arterial lesions. For the LAD and LCX lesions, there was no significant difference in diagnostic performance. In Group-II patients, the overall normalcy rate improved but this improvement was not statistically significant (p=0.07). However, for RCA lesions, specificity improved significantly but sensitivity worsened significantly with ASCRR correction (both p<0.05). Overall accuracy was the same. Conclusion: The ASCRR correction did not improve diagnostic performance significantly although the diagnostic specificity for RCA lesions improved on quantitative myocardial SPECT. The clinical application of the ASC-RR correction requires more discretion regarding cost and efficacy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.207-221
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• 2000

Purpose: Cost-effectiveness of myocardial SPECT for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease was investigated considering the present and amended costs of myocardial SPECT and exercise ECG in Korea. Materials and Methods: Four diagnostic tactics such as 1) coronary angiography (CAG) after exercise ECG, 2) CAG after myocardial SPECT, 3) direct CAG, and 4) CAG after myocardial SPECT following exercise ECG were chosen. Costs were calculated using the present costs of various tests and effects represented by Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) were estimated. Difference of QALY (${\Delta}QALY$) was calculated by subtracting QALY of diagnosed/treated cases from QALY of undiagnosed cases. $Cost/{\Delta}QALY$ was calculated and compared between four different tactics according to pre-test probability. Results: When pre-test probability was equal to or larger than 0.6, direct CAG was the most cost-effective. When pre-test probability was between 0.2 and 0.6, CAG after myocardial SPECT following exercise ECG was the most cost-effective. CAG after myocardial SPECT was the second most cost-effective. Cost-effectiveness was similar when the costs of exercise ECG were doubled or quadrupled. CAG after exercise ECG was always the least cost-effective. Conclusion: Myocardial SPECT with or without preceding exercise ECG was the most cost-effective method to diagnose coronary artery disease in the present or expected amended cost system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.473-477
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• 1995

Information about regional wall motion obtained with gated $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ SPECT was compared in 23 subjects(4 normals) to echocardiography or contrast left ventriculography. Gated SPECT study using 20-30 mCi $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ were aquired lot 8 frames/RR interval (aqusition time=40min.) and processed with Cine Mode computer protocol. Regional wall motion was assessed by visual analysis. The concordance with echocardiography was 88% and with contrast ventriculography was 78%. We conclude that gated $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ SPECT was effective in assessing the regional wall motion with the information of regional perfusion in one study.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2003

An analysis of heart movement is to estimate a role which supplies blood in human body. We have constructed a left ventricle myocardium model and mathematically evaluated the motion of myocardium. The myocardial motility was visualized using some parameters about cardiac motion. We applied the myocardium model in the gated myocardium SPECT image that showed a cardiac biochemical reaction, and analyzed a motility between the gated myocardium SPECT image and the myocardium model. The myocardium model was created of the based on three dimensional super-ellipsoidal model that was using the sinusoidal function. To express a similar form and motion of the left ventricle myocardium, we calculated parameter functions that gave the changing of motion and form. The LSF algorithm was applied to the myocardium gated SPECT image data and the myocardium model, and finally created a fitting model. Then we analyzed a regional motility direction and size of the gated myocardium SPECT image that was constructed on a fitting model. Furthermore, we implemented the Bull's Eye map that had evaluated the heart function for presentation of regional motility. Using myocardium's motion the evaluation of cardiac function of SPECT was estimated by a contraction ability, perfusion etc. However, it is not any estimation about motility. So, We analyzed the myocardium SPECT's motility of utilizing the myocardium model. We expect that the proposed algorithm should be a useful guideline in the heart functional estimation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2013

Purpose: SPECT/CT, a combination of SPECT and CT, is capable of expressing the results of attenuation correction on images biased by automatic program. As a result, this research evaluates the usefulness of images with CT attenuation correction, using various phantoms and images of patients. Materials and Methods: From July of 2012 to September of 2012, this research was conducted on the contrast, spatial resolution, and images of patients. We studied the contrast with IEC body phantom and Jaszczak phantom, while the spatial resolution was evaluated with NEMA triple line phantom. Further, a comparative study was carried out on the quality of the images, on the difference between the images before and after the CT attenuation correction. Results: Compared the differences between the contrast before and after the CT attenuation correction in IEC body phantom. The contrast was improved by 33.6% at minimum, 89.8% at maximum. In case of Jaszczak Phantom, the contrast was enhanced by 9.9% at minimum, 27.8% at maximum. In NEMA Triple line phantom, the resolution was raised by 4.5% in average: 4.4% in horizontal, 4.5% in vertical. In Anthropomorphic Torso Phantom, the perfusion score of the interior wall with the most severe attenuation was measured to be 29.4%. In the experiment carried out on myocardial perfusion SPECT/CT patients, 9% improvement was discovered in the interior wall, where the most dramatic attenuation occurred, after the CT attenuation correction. Conclusion: SPECT/CT proved its clinical usefulness by enabling the acquisition of images with enhanced contrast and spatial resolution compare to the ones resulted from SPECT.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2002

Objectives: This study investigated alterations in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with transient global amnesia (TGA) using statistical parametric mapping 99 (SPM99). Methods: Noninvasive rCBF measurements using 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) SPECT were performed on 8 patients with TGA who have ongoing symptoms and 17 age matched controls. The relative rCBF maps in patients with TGA and controls were compared. Results: In patients with TGA, significant decreased rCBF was found along the L superior temporal extending to L parietal region of the brain and L thalamus. There were areas of increased rCBF in the R temporal, R frontal region and R thalamus. Conclusion: We could demonstrate decreased perfusion in left cerebral hemisphere and increased perfusion in right cerebral hemisphere in patients with TGA using SPM99. The imbalanced change of rCBF between bilateral cerebral hemisphere in patients with TGA might suggest that imbalanced neuronal activity between the bilateral hemispheres may have strong relationship to the pathogenesis of the TGA. For quantitative SPECT analysis in TGA patients, we recommend SPM99 rather than the ROI method because of its definitive advantages.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2009

Coronary artery disease is on the rise over the world. Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a well established technique to detect coronary artery disease and to assess left ventricular function. In addition, it has the unique ability to predict the prognosis of the patients. Moreover, the application of ECC-gated images provided the quantitatve data and improved the accuracy. This approach has been proved to be cost-effective and suitable for the emerging economies as well as developed countries. However, the utilization of nuclear cardiology procedures vary widely considering the different countries and region of the world. Korea exits 2-3 times less utilization than Japan, and 20 times than the United States. Recently, with the emerging of new technology, namely cardiac CT, cardiac MR and stress echocardiography, the clinical usefulness of nuclear cardiology has been called in question and its role has been redefined. For the proper promotion of nuclear cardiology, special educations should be conducted since the nuclear cardiology has the contact points between nuclear medicine and cardiology. Several innovations are in horizon which will impact the diagnostic accuracy as well as imaging time and cost savings. Development of new tracers, gamma camera technology and hybrid systems will open the new avenue in cardiac imaging. The future of nuclear cardiology based on molecular imaging is very exciting. The newly defined biologic targets involving atherosclerosis and vascular vulnerability will allow the answers for the key clinical questions. Hybrid techniques including SPECT/CT indicate the direction in which clinical nuclear cardiology may be headed in the immediate future. To what extent nuclear cardiology will be passively absorbed by other modalities, or will actively incorporate other modalities, is up to the present and next generation of nuclear cardiologists.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2005

Purpose: The maximal elastance ($E_{max}$) of myocardium has been established as a reliable load-independent contractility index. Recently, we developed a noninvasive method to measure the regional contractility using gated myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry data. In this study, we measured regional $E_{max}(rE_{max}$ in the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and assessed its relationship with other variables. Materials and Methods: 21 patients (M:F=17:4, $58{\pm}12$ y) who underwent CABG were enrolled. $^{201}TI$ rest/dipyridamole stress $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi gated SPECT were performed before and 3 months after CABG. For 15 myocardial regions, regional time-elastance curve was obtained using the pressure data of tonometry and the volume data of gated SPECT. To investigate the coupling with myocardial function, preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was compared with regional perfusion and systolic thickening. In addition, the correlation between $E_{max}$ and viability was assessed in dysfunctional segments (thickening <20% before CABG). The viability was defined as improvement of postoperative systolic thickening more than 10%. Results: Regional $E_{max}$ was slightly increased after CABG from $2.41{\pm}1.64 (pre)\;to\;2.78{\pm}1.83 (post)$ mmHg/ml. $E_{max}$ had weak correlation with perfusion and thickening (r=0.35, p<0.001). In the regions of preserved perfusion (${\geq}60%$), $E_{max}$ was $2.65{\pm}1.67$, while it was $1.30{\pm}1.24$ in the segments of decreased perfusion. With regard to thickening, $E_{max}$ was $3.01{\pm}1.92$ mmHg/ml for normal regions (thickening ${geq}40%$), $2.40{\pm}1.19$ mmHg/ml for mildly dysfunctional regions (<40% and ${\geq}20%$), and $1.13{\pm}0.89$ mmHg/ml for severely dysfunctional regions (<20%). $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG in both the viable (from $1.27{\pm}1.07\;to\;1.79{\pm}1.48$ mmHg/ml) and non-viable segments (from $0.97 {\pm}0.59\;to\;1.22{\pm}0.71$ mmHg/ml), but there was no correlation between $E_{max}$ and thickening improvements (r=0.007). Conclusions: Preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was relatively concordant with regional perfusion and systolic thickening on gated myocardial SPECT. In dysfunctional but viable segments, $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG, but showed no correlation with thickening improvement. As a load-independent contractility index of dysfunctional myocardial segments, we suggest that the regional $E_{max}$ could be an independent parameter in the assessment of myocardial function.