Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Vol.27 No.4 2011 (176-181)
Toru Iwasa1), Yuko Ban1), Hiraku Doi2), Hajime Monzen3)
1)Department of Pediatrics, Otsu Red-Cross Hospital, Shiga, Japan,
2)Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan,
3)Radiology, Otsu Red-Cross Hospital, Shiga, Japan
Abstract
Background: Shortened total time 99mTc-tetrofosmin (99mTc-TF) myocardial perfusion scintigram is now performed in adult nuclear cardiology. 99mTc-TF has several advantages, such as high image quality due to high signal/noise ratio, reduction of total exposure dose, which enables quantitative evaluation of cardiac function, and requests for only 1 hour to obtain all images.
Method: 7 cases of Kawasaki disease underwent the shortened total time stress 99mTc-TF myocardial perfusion scintigram protocol. Total examination time was measured and image quality was evaluated. To fit patients to appropriate position, we used a patient immobilizer originally used to radiotherapy.
Result: In all 7 cases, images had sufficient quality for evaluation. Mean total testing time was as short as 77.3 min. Side effect of the adenosine was observed in one case but it was only transient tachycardia.
Conclusion: Shortened time protocol was useful and safe for pediatric patients. The protocol enables us to obtain high-quality images and reduce the total testing time and total exposure dose.