Diagnostic and prognostic value of scintigraphic methods in cardiology

The diagnostic possibilities of myocardial scintigraphy in cardiology are discussed. As an invasive technique the perfusion imaging is described. The valuation of the double-isotope-scintigraphy for better diagnostic examination during coronary arteriography is accentuated. The 201-Thallium-scintigraphy as a non invasive method is debated. The diagnostic value of the 201-Thallium stress scintigraphy is shown. The similarity of ergometric and pharmacologic provocation with Dipyridamol is represented. In the following the reliability and the specificity of the infarct scntigraphy with 99m-Technetium-pyrophosphate as ''hot-spot-tecnique'' is discussed. The follow-up scintigraphy allows to draw prognostic inferences about the further course of a myocardial infarction. The scintigraphic findings were correlated to haemodynamic measurements. Scintigraphic examinations in patients with stable angina pectoris without infarction revealed correlations between the uptake of the tracer in the myocardium and a disturbed left venticular function. A chromic deficiency in the blood supply of the myocardium is discussed as the cause of the tracer uptake. (author)