There has been a shortage of nuclear isotopes, not only in Canada but around the world. New, more sensitive SPECT cameras can obtain better images in shorter scan times. These cameras have also shown the ability to use a smaller dose of radioisotope to obtain the images. New software has been tested on the standard camera, the GE Infinia-Hawkeye SPECT/CT. The Diagnostic Imaging Department of The University of Ottawa Heart Institute has also acquired a new camera, the Discovery NM530c CZT and has been doing heart scans in shorter times. The investigators will now be looking at the quality of images using less isotope during SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.

SPECT MPI is well accepted as a reliable and cost-effective tool for diagnosis, risk stratification and management of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) (1;2). MPI represents approximately 40% of nuclear medicine patient studies and most of these use 99mTc-sestamibi or 99mTc-tetrofosmin(3). Rest/stress MPI using 99mTc-sestamibi and 99mTc-tetrofosmin uses more tracer doses than many other nuclear medicine tests and thus account for >50% of injected radiotracer activity(3). Thus, interruptions in the supply of 99Mo, the parent isotope of 99mTc, significantly affect stress MPI imaging and associated patient care.

Alternatives to 99mTc-sestamibi and 99mTc-tetrofosmin for perfusion imaging include 201Tl for SPECT imaging and 82Rb or 13NH3 for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging (4;5). MPI using 201Tl has similar diagnostic accuracy but image interpretation is more difficult due to greater scatter and attenuation. Moreover, the patient effective radiation dose for MPI using a standard injected dose of 3.5mCi of 201Tl is ~20 mSv. This radiation dose is twice that of 99mTc tracers which typically deliver an effective dose of ~10 mSv. PET imaging with 82Rb or 13NH3 is another alternative, but is much more expensive and not routinely available in Canada due to a very limited install base of PET scanners and associated cyclotrons. The number of SPECT cameras operational in Canada is more than 40 times the number of PET scanners.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consecutive patients presenting for clinically indicated SPECT perfusion scan
• Patients presenting to sites with a functional CZT camera. Available sites are Ottawa (OHI), Mississauga, and Calgary.
• Age >18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a life expectancy less than 1 year, from non cardiac cause
• Age < 18 years old or lack of consent
• Allergy or contraindication to dipyridamole
• Refractory angina or infarction or need for urgent angiography
• Known pregnancy
• Uncontrolled atrial fibrillation