Three-Dimensional Image Processing and Motion Analysis of the Heart Using Radionuclide Medical Images

Radionuclide imaging is now commonly used for assessing patients with ischemic heart disease. Myocardial SPECT imaging with technetium-99m labeled perfusion agents is especially useful since regional myocardial perfusion and function are simultaneously estimated by using ECG-gated acquisition. In the present study, we developed two kinds of software program for image processing in the ECG-gated imaging. One is to quantify regional wall thickening of the left ventricle on the basis of changes in regional myocardial radioactivity from end-diastole to end-systole. The other is to generate a superimposed display of three-dimensionally reconstructed coronary artery trees and myocardial SPECT images. We evaluated utilities of these two software programs to the decision-making and effect-evaluation of coronary revascularization therapies in patients with ischemic heart disease and found promising roles in the clinical care.