Quantitative thallium imaging findings in patients with normal coronary angiographic findings and in clinically normal subjects

Sanjiv Kaul, John B. Newell, David A. Chesler, Gerald M. Pohost, Robert D. Okada, Charles A. Boucher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Computer-quantified exercise thallium images in 45 clinically normal subjects (group I) and in 44 patients with chest pain and no significant coronary artery disease by angiography (group II) were compared. Group II patients were older and more frequently female, had ST-segment depression by electrocardiography, and included 8 with subcritical (0 to 49%) stenoses. When normality was defined by the range of thallium imaging values in the clinically normal subjects, and after correcting clearance for peak exercise heart rate, 20 of 44 patients (45%) in group II had "abnormal" findings. The only difference between the 20 patients with abnormal findings and the 24 with normal findings in group II was a greater frequency of subcritical (less than 50%) coronary stenoses in the abnormal group, 7 (35%) vs 1 (4%) (p < 0.05). However, this does not explain most of the abnormalities of thallium imaging in group II. Thus, abnormal thallium findings in subjects with normal angiographic findings are frequently seen and are partially related to the presence of subcritical coronary stenoses, suggesting an underestimation of coronary obstruction. Furthermore, clinically and angiographically normal subjects may differ substantially, and both sets of normal subjects should be considered when establishing criteria for abnormality in exercise thallium imaging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)509-512
Number of pages4
JournalThe American journal of cardiology
Volume57
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - May 3 1986
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Quantitative thallium imaging findings in patients with normal coronary angiographic findings and in clinically normal subjects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this