HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Leavitt, J. I. Articles by Rocco, T. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Leavitt, J. I. Articles by Rocco, T. P.

Demonstration of Viable, Stunned Myocardium with Technetium-99m-Sestamibi

Divisions of Cardiology and Nuclear Medicine, Brockton/West Roxbury Veteran's Affairs Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence: For correspondence and reprints contact Jeffrey I. Leavitt, MD, Brown University School of Medicine, 111 Brewster St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.

ABSTRACT

Delayed improvement of left ventricular contractile function in the setting of acute ischemia followed by reperfusion ("stunned myocardium") has been observed in a number of clinical scenarios, and may have important clinical implications. At present, there are no widely accepted techniques available to demonstrate its presence. We report a case in which a rest ^99mTc-sestamibi scan performed 12 hr after thrombolytic therapy in the setting of acute myocardial infarction demonstrated viable myocardium in a region that was akinetic by contrast ventriculography. After surgical revascularization, follow-up ^99mTc-sestamibi images showed normal perfusion and radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated normal left ventricular function. Demonstration of preserved ^99mTc-sestamibi myocardial uptake in the infarct zone despite an extensive region of akinesis by contrast ventriculography predicted the recovery of left ventricular function after revascularization in this case. This suggests that perfusion imaging with ^99mTc-sestamibi early after myocardial reperfusion can detect stunned myocardium and thus facilitate the decision-making process regarding management of such patients.

Key Words: stunned myocardium • technetium-99m-sestamibi

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. J. Schoen and R. F. Padera Jr. Cardiac Surgical Pathology Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2003; 2(2003): 119 - 185. [Full Text]