THALLIUM-201 STRESS TEST IN 156 PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Currently, myocardial TI-201 scintigraphy is most often performed in conjunction with exercise stress testing in patients with suspected or known CAD. Stress thallium tests were performed for 156 patients with and without old myocardial infarctions complaining of chest pain. All of them underwent contrast coronary angiography. Perfusion defects were mostly manifested as reversible defects (R). Sensitivity of visual detection was generally 93%. The anteroseptal wall and septum showed defects more often than the other segments in patients with LAD stenosis. The inferolateral walls showed the least defects in RCA involvement. There was a significant difference between mean stenosis of LADs (90± 10%) and CXs (82±11 %) (P<O.0005), making sensitivity of detection low for stenosed CX arteries.