Myocardial Perfusion Imaging With 99m Tc Tetrofosmin

Abstract
Background Our objective was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of tetrofosmin, a new 99mTc-labeled myocardial perfusion imaging agent for the detection of myocardial perfusion abnormalities, with those of 201Tl and coronary angiography. Our hypothesis was that same-day stress/rest tetrofosmin imaging could provide data comparable to those of 201Tl imaging. Myocardial perfusion imaging plays an important role for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Newer 99mTc-labeled agents offer several advantages over 201Tl, the conventional myocardial perfusion imaging agent. Tetrofosmin is a new 99mTc-labeled agent with promising results in preliminary studies. Methods and Results Two hundred fifty-two patients with suspected coronary artery disease were enrolled in 10 centers in the United States and Europe. All patients underwent exercise and rest myocardial perfusion imaging with 99mTc-tetrofosmin using two separate injections of the radiotracer 4 hours apart on the same day. Planar images were obta...