Perfusion and function at rest and treadmill exercise using technetium-99m-sestamibi: comparison of one- and two-day protocols in normal volunteers.

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of performing rest and exercise technetium-99m-sestamibi (99mTc-sestamibi) studies on the same day. We prospectively studied 34 asymptomatic volunteers using two different protocols (17 patients studied using one-day protocol and 17 patients studied using two-day protocol). For the one-day protocol, the rest study was performed first. For the two-day protocol, the exercise study was performed first followed by a second-day rest study. Left and right ventricular ejection fractions, myocardium/lung, myocardium/liver, myocardium/spleen, and myocardium/gallbladder count ratios were similar for the one- and two-day groups. No significant difference was observed in any variable measured. These data suggest that 99mTc-sestamibi can be used for rest and treadmill exercise studies performed on the same day to provide assessment of ventricular function and perfusion similar to studies performed on separate days.

Duke Scholars

Author Salvador Borges-Neto Radiology, Nuclear Medicine