Functional imaging in radionuclide ventriculography using multiharmonic Fourier analysis of gated list mode acquisition data

Functional images were developed, using temporal Fourier analysis of gated listmode data approximating the time activity curve of each pixel by the first harmonic as well as by the sum of the first three harmonics. Parametric scans obtained in 77 patients with CAD and in 19 normals are compared with the results of conventional cine-ventriculography. In comparison to the highly specific single harmonic analysis, the multiharmonic parametric pictures of regional EF, contraction and relaxation velocity are considerably increasing the sensitivity for detection of regional wall motion abnormalities. It is concluded that multiharmonic parametric images used together with the single harmonic pictures provide an objective and reliable method for evaluation of regional left ventricular function. (orig.)