Evaluation of sup(99m)Tc-dichloro BIS (1,2-dimethylphosphino) ethane (sup(99m)Tc-DMPE) for myocardial scintigraphy in man

sup(99m)Tc-DMPE was used for myocardidal scintigraphy in ten patients with coronary artery disease. As in 201Tl studies regional activity of sup(99m)Tc-DMPE was reduced in infarcted myocardium. However, activity accumulation of sup(99m)Tc-DMPE in the heart was faint, while that in the liver was prominent. The activity ratio of heart to liver improved with time, whereas that of heart to lung decreased. The scintigraphic quality was considerably worse in sup(99m)Tc-DMPE studies than in those with 201Tl, due to high background activity. Also the visualization of the ribs and sternum interfered with the interpretation of the scintigrams. From these results it appears that 201Tl remains still the agent of choice for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. (orig.)