Comparison Study of Left Ventricular Function Assessment by 18F-FDG PET, Gated SPECT and 2D-Echocardiography in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

The aim of this study is to analyze the concordance between EDV, ESV and LVEF values derived from 18F-FDG PET, GSPECT and ECHO in patients with myocardial infarction. Sixty-four patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction were enrolled in the study. Each patient underwent at least two of the above mentioned studies within 2 weeks. LVEF, EDV and ESV values were analyzed with dedicated software. Statistical evaluation of correlation and agreement was carried out EDV was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET compared with GSPECT [(137.98 ± 61.71) mL and (125.35 ± 59.34) mL]; ESV was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET (85.89 ± 55.21) mL and GSPECT (82.39 ± 55.56) mL compared with ECHO (68.22 ± 41.37) mL; EF was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET (41.96% ± 15.08%) and ECHO (52.18% ± 13.87%) compared with GSPECT (39.75% ± 15.64%), and EF was also overestimated by 18F-FDG PET compared with GSPECT. The results of linear regression analysis showed good correlation between EDV, ESV and LVEF values derived from 18F-FDG PET, GSPECT and ECHO (r = 0.643-0.873, P = 0.000). Bland-Altman analysis indicated that 18F-FDG PET correlated well with ECHO in the Left ventricular function parameters. While GSPECT correlated well with 18F-FDG PET in ESV, GSPECT had good correlation with Echo in respect of EDV and EF; whereas GSPECT had poor correlation with PET/ECHO in the remaining left ventricular function parameters. Therefore, the clinical physicians should decide whether they would use the method according to the patients' situation and diagnostic requirements.