Evaluation of myocardial involvement in muscular dystrophy with Thallium-201 emission computed tomography

The clinical usefulness of quantitative analysis of thallium-201 emission computed tomography (ECT) for evaluation of left ventricular myocardial fibrosis was assessed on 45 patients with Duchenne(D), facioscapulohumeral(FSH), limbgirdle(LG) and myotonic(M) dystrophy. Trans-,long- and short-axial images were interpreted quantitatively using circumferential profile analysis, and the fibrotic tissue size (%FIB) was estimated by integration of hypoperfused areas in 6 to 8 consecutive short-axial slices. Lung/mediastinum count ratios (L/M ratio) were also assessed. Distinct ECT defects were found in 42 patients (all cases of D, FSH and LG, and 2 of 5 MTs). ECT defects were observed specifically in the posterolateral wall (71%) and apex (58%) in D, and were scattered in all LV walls in FSHG, LG and MT. ECG and VCG underestimated the extent of myocardial fibrosis in 17 patients (40%). Percent FIBs coincided with fibrotic tissue sizes proven by autopsy. Body-surface ECG should be influenced by cardiac position and rotation in the thorax, which were often observed in these disease entities. These factors were also assessed with ECT. The authors conclude; ECT to be useful for non-invasive evaluation of myocardial fibrosis in patients with various types of muscular dystrophy