Takeshi Masuoka

Quantitative phase analysis of myocardial wall thickening by technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile SPECT

Regional wall thickening was assessed by ECG-gated SPECT using technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI). For myocardial segments with an optimal short axis, regional count changes from end-diastole to end-systole were used to calculate the regional wall thickening. Functional images displaying amplitude, % wall thickening (% WT), and phase were generated by a fundamental Fourier analysis. In the control subjects, % WT analysis showed heterogeneous contraction among the left ventricular wall segments. The amplitude values showed a similar pattern to the %WT values. Phase images demonstrated that the timing of ventricular contraction was almost homogenous between the various wall segments. In the CAD patients, regional decreases in amplitude and %WT corresponding to zones of reduced perfusion were shown in the ischemic segments. Phase images also indicated asynchronous contraction in these segments. Phase analysis of regional wall thickening in 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy seems to be useful for understanding regional myocardial function in combination with perfusion scanning.

Effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on exercise ventilation in patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular function

We evaluated the ventilatory response to exercise before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 22 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal left ventricular systolic function to determine the effect of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia on the ventilatory response. Subjects performed a symptom-limited maximal ergometer exercise test in the sitting position. The ventilatory response was evaluated in terms of the slopes of minute ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) during exercise (slope 1 and slope 2, defined as below and above the respiratory compensation threshold, respectively). Slope 1 of the correlation between (VE) and (VCO2) was significantly greater in patients with CAD (27.3 +/- 2.6) than in the age-matched control group (23.7 +/- 2.6; p < 0.01). Slope 2 was also significantly greater in patients (41.0 +/- 4.8) than in the control group (29.7 +/- 2.9; p < 0.01). Slope 1 of the correlation between (VE) and (VCO2) decreased significantly in the 14 patients in whom PTCA was successful but did not decrease in the 8 patients in whom PTCA failed. Our results suggest that myocardial ischemia increases exercise ventilation in patients with CAD and normal left ventricular systolic function and that its effect is reversible.

Phase changes caused by hyperventilation stress in spastic angina pectoris analyzed by first-pass radionuclide ventriculography

To understand the effect of hyperventilation (HV) stress in patients with spastic angina, left ventricular (LV) contraction was analyzed by quantitative phase analysis.The study was performed on 36 patients with spastic angina pectoris, including vasospastic angina pectoris (VspAP: 16 patients) and variant angina pectoris (VAP: 20 patients). First-pass radionuclide ventriculography (first-pass RNV) was performed at rest and after HV stress, and standard deviation of the LV phase distribution (SD) was analyzed.The SD was lower in patients with VspAP than in VAP (12.8 ± 1.4 degrees vs. 14.6 ± 2.2 degrees, p < 0.005) at rest. After HV stress, the SD (HVSD) tended to increase in VspAP patients (62.5%), whereas the SD decreased in VAP patients (70%). Due to HV stress, the percentage change in SD (%SD) in VspAP patients was 8.9 ± 23.7% whereas that in VAP patients was −9.1 ± 17.3% (p < 0.01). Moreover, phase histograms were divided into HVSD increase and HVSD decrease groups. The HVSD increase group had a decrease of HVEF, but the HVSD decrease group tended to have more decreased HVEF than the HVSD increase group.These results indicate that spastic angina pectoris patients show various responses to HV stress. The HVSD increase group might have additional myocardial ischemia due to regional coronary spasm. In contrast, in the HVSD decrease group severe LV dysfunction or diffuse wall motion abnormality might have been generated, and this caused a reduction in the SD value. Phase analysis would therefore add new information regarding electrocardiographically silent myocardial ischemia due to coronary spasm, and HV stress might increase sensitivity for the detection of abnormalities in quantitative phase analysis, especially in VspAP patients.

A study of ventricular contraction sequence in complete right bundle branch block by phase analysis

Twenty-four patients with complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB) combined with and without left axis deviation (LAD) on ECG, were compared with 17 normal subjects to evaluate the right ventricular contraction sequence and pattern in detail. Blood pool scintigrams were obtained in the left anterior oblique projection, and these images were analyzed by first component Fourier harmonics.In the normal subjects, the phase value distribution representing the pattern of ventricular contraction was almost homogeneous in both the right and left ventricles (RV & LV). In the CRBBB patients without LAD, the phase images showed apparent phase delay in the right ventricle. In the CRBBB patients with LAD, the phase images showed many different contraction patterns varying from normal to RV phase delay, owing to the effects of the hemiblock. Quantitative analysis of the absolute values, showed that the mean (RV-LV) value was 6.6±8.4 msec in the normal subjects. In the CRBBB patients without LAD, the duration of the QRS complex correlated with the mean (RV-LV) value, whereas no difference was observed between the duration of the QRS complex and the standard deviation of the right ventricle. Using phase analysis the degree of the RBBB can be determined from the phase images, and can be quantitatively analyzed as in electrical studies.

Perfusion and mechanical analysis with technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile in a case of dilated cardiomyopathy

With technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI), regional wall thickening in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy was analyzed by the first component Fourier method. The regional wall thickening was compared with thallium-201 and99mTc-MIBI SPECT imaging. Thallium-201 SPECT images showed mildly reduced perfusion in the posterior wall and redistribution in the septum, whereas99mTc-MIBI images showed heterogeneous accumulation around the left ventricular circumference. By means of phase analysis, diffusely decreased wall thickening and discontinuity of percent wall thickening in neighboring segments were observed throughout the left ventricle. Regional wall motion and wall thickening correlated roughly. However, discrepancies between the mechanical function and myocardial perfusion, and discrepancies in regional myocardial perfusion between thallium-201 and99mTc-MIBI were observed.