RADIONUCLIDE LEFT VENTRICULOGRAPHY WITH SLANT HOLE COLLIMATOR

Abstract

A 30.degree. slant-hole collimator was used during radionuclide ventriculography of the cardiac blood pool to improve imaging of the heart in both the modified left anterior oblique (MLAO) and right anterior oblique (RAO) views. In the MLAO view with the holes slanted caudally good separation between the left atrium and left ventricle was achieved, and the septum was displayed without foreshortening. In the RAO view with the collimator flat against the chest there was better resolution of the cardiac apex. The results of ejection fraction and wall motion analysis in these patients correlated well with contrast ventriculography (r = 0.94). Combination of the slant-hole collimator, in vivo red blood cell labeling with stannous pyrophosphate, simultaneous collection of all phases of the cardiac cycle and cine mode display provide a practical system for the noninvasive measurement of left ventricular performance parameters.