{"title":"Response to letter to the editor from Aphale et al.","authors":"Damien Legallois MD, PhD , Lucas Turcan MD , Denis Agostini MD, PhD , Alain Manrique MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102572","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145634831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The clinical significance of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-derived increase ratio (IR) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether SPECT- IR can diagnose significant coronary artery disease (CAD), correlate with positron emission tomography (PET)-derived myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and predict the composite endpoint.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 60 patients with known or suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) who underwent stress-rest 99mTc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT and 13N-ammonia PET. Global and regional SPECT-IR and PET-MFR were measured. The endpoint of this study was a composite of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.
Results
Global and regional IR predicted significant CAD, and IR correlated with their respective MFRs (global: r = .43, r2 = .18, P < .001; regional: r = .34, r2 = .12, P < .001). The global IR decreased with advancing CAD severity, as did global MFR. Among nonstenotic vessels, regional IR was significantly lower in patients with MFR <2.0 than in those with MFR ≥2.0. The SPECT-IR may also predict the need for early revascularization as well as PET-MFR. During a median follow-up of 765 days, nine primary events occurred. Using an IR threshold of 1.13, corresponding to an MFR of 2.0, eight of nine patients with events had IR < 1.13. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of IR showed good predictive ability for adverse events.
Conclusion
SPECT-IR is associated with PET-MFR and CAD severity. The SPECT-IR may be a potential predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with known or suspected CHD.
{"title":"Single-photon emission computed tomography-increase ratio, a potential alternative to positron emission tomography-myocardial flow reserve, is a useful prognostic indicator in patients with known or suspected coronary heart disease at facilities without positron emission tomography","authors":"Shigehiko Katoh MD, PhD, Tetsu Watanabe MD, PhD, FAHA, FESC, Takafumi Mito MD, Naoaki Hashimoto MD, Masahiro Wanezaki MD, Yoichiro Otaki MD, Harutoshi Tamura MD, Satoshi Nishiyama MD, Takanori Arimoto MD, Masafumi Watanabe MD, PhD, FESC","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The clinical significance of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-derived increase ratio (IR) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether SPECT- IR can diagnose significant coronary artery disease (CAD), correlate with positron emission tomography (PET)-derived myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and predict the composite endpoint.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed 60 patients with known or suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) who underwent stress-rest <sup>99m</sup>Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT and <sup>13</sup>N-ammonia PET. Global and regional SPECT-IR and PET-MFR were measured. The endpoint of this study was a composite of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Global and regional IR predicted significant CAD, and IR correlated with their respective MFRs (global: r = .43, r<sup>2</sup> = .18, <em>P</em> < .001; regional: r = .34, r<sup>2</sup> = .12, <em>P</em> < .001). The global IR decreased with advancing CAD severity, as did global MFR. Among nonstenotic vessels, regional IR was significantly lower in patients with MFR <2.0 than in those with MFR ≥2.0. The SPECT-IR may also predict the need for early revascularization as well as PET-MFR. During a median follow-up of 765 days, nine primary events occurred. Using an IR threshold of 1.13, corresponding to an MFR of 2.0, eight of nine patients with events had IR < 1.13. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of IR showed good predictive ability for adverse events.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>SPECT-IR is associated with PET-MFR and CAD severity. The SPECT-IR may be a potential predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with known or suspected CHD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102536"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102577
Waseem Hijazi MD , Piotr J. Slomka PhD
{"title":"Left ventricular function across SPECT, PET, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Consistency remains elusive","authors":"Waseem Hijazi MD , Piotr J. Slomka PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102577","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102577"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102527
Mark C. Hyun CNMT, NCT, RS, RT (N, R, CT), FASNC , Ashley Brown MSHA, CNMT , Dennis A. Calnon MD, FACC, FASE, MASNC, FSCCT
{"title":"Scanner room crisis: Bridging the workforce shortage gap of nuclear medicine technologists","authors":"Mark C. Hyun CNMT, NCT, RS, RT (N, R, CT), FASNC , Ashley Brown MSHA, CNMT , Dennis A. Calnon MD, FACC, FASE, MASNC, FSCCT","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102527","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102527"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145329449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102576
Jonathan B. Moody PhD, Alexis Poitrasson-Rivière PhD, Jennifer M. Renaud PhD
{"title":"“Sail while the breeze blows” Navigating the tracer-dependence of absolute flow","authors":"Jonathan B. Moody PhD, Alexis Poitrasson-Rivière PhD, Jennifer M. Renaud PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102576","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102576"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102542
Fredrik Hedeer MD, PhD , Sofia Kvernby PhD , Jenny Oddstig PhD , Shahnaz Akil Engblom PhD
Background
Assessment of left ventricular function and dimensions is central for cardiac diagnostic imaging with cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS). The aim of this study was to compare [13N]NH3 PET and MPS, head-to-head, for assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and volumes using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as reference.
Methods
A total of 74 patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome, of which 27 patients were examined twice 6 months apart, were included. All performed CMR and [13N]NH3 PET on the same day, and MPS with cadmium-zinc-telluride technology within 1.0 ± 1.8 days. LVEF, end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) by [13N]NH3 PET and MPS using standard clinical reconstruction parameters as well as reconstructions with altered filters, subsets, and iterations were compared to CMR (bias±standard deviation).
Results
Using standard clinical reconstruction parameters, both PET and MPS underestimated EDV (−58 ± 23 mL and −77 ± 22 mL, respectively) and ESV (−31 ± 19 mL and −29 ± 16 mL, respectively) compared to CMR. For LVEF, the bias was 5±6% and −3±7% for PET and MPS, respectively. The bias was slightly lowered for EDV by altering reconstruction parameters of PET (−56 ± 23 mL) and MPS (−76 ± 23 mL) images.
Conclusions
Left ventricular volumes by [13N]NH3 PET and MPS are significantly underestimated compared to CMR when using standard clinical reconstruction parameters, whereas LVEF shows better agreement. Furthermore, there seems to be potential for improved accuracy of EDV, especially for [13N]NH3 PET, when optimizing selected reconstruction parameters in the studied population.
{"title":"Head-to-head comparison of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by [13N]ammonia positron emission tomography, myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography with cadmium-zinc-telluride technology and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging","authors":"Fredrik Hedeer MD, PhD , Sofia Kvernby PhD , Jenny Oddstig PhD , Shahnaz Akil Engblom PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102542","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2025.102542","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Assessment of left ventricular function and dimensions is central for cardiac diagnostic imaging with cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS). The aim of this study was to compare [<sup>13</sup>N]NH<sub>3</sub> PET and MPS, head-to-head, for assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and volumes using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as reference.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 74 patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome, of which 27 patients were examined twice 6 months apart, were included. All performed CMR and [<sup>13</sup>N]NH<sub>3</sub> PET on the same day, and MPS with cadmium-zinc-telluride technology within 1.0 ± 1.8 days. LVEF, end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) by [<sup>13</sup>N]NH<sub>3</sub> PET and MPS using standard clinical reconstruction parameters as well as reconstructions with altered filters, subsets, and iterations were compared to CMR (bias±standard deviation).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Using standard clinical reconstruction parameters, both PET and MPS underestimated EDV (−58 ± 23 mL and −77 ± 22 mL, respectively) and ESV (−31 ± 19 mL and −29 ± 16 mL, respectively) compared to CMR. For LVEF, the bias was 5±6% and −3±7% for PET and MPS, respectively. The bias was slightly lowered for EDV by altering reconstruction parameters of PET (−56 ± 23 mL) and MPS (−76 ± 23 mL) images.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Left ventricular volumes by [<sup>13</sup>N]NH<sub>3</sub> PET and MPS are significantly underestimated compared to CMR when using standard clinical reconstruction parameters, whereas LVEF shows better agreement. Furthermore, there seems to be potential for improved accuracy of EDV, especially for [<sup>13</sup>N]NH<sub>3</sub> PET, when optimizing selected reconstruction parameters in the studied population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102542"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145482381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2026.102624
Marcelo F. Di Carli MD, MASNC
{"title":"Flow is the signal","authors":"Marcelo F. Di Carli MD, MASNC","doi":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2026.102624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nuclcard.2026.102624","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16476,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nuclear Cardiology","volume":"55 ","pages":"Article 102624"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145996532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}