%0 Journal Article %A Max Sundby %A Ann Voslar %A Alexandria Pleshek %A Andrew Thrams %T Analyzing the correlation between SPECT/CT and biopsy rates for Cardiac Technetium 99m Pyrophosphate studies in the diagnosis of amyloid plaque. %D 2022 %J Journal of Nuclear Medicine %P 4088-4088 %V 63 %N supplement 2 %X 4088 Introduction: This study analyzes the change in biopsy rates as it applies to the utilization of SPECT/CT in Tc 99m Pyrophosphate (PYP) imaging for cardiac amyloidosis. Grading of amyloid plaque in the myocardium ranges from zero to three. Grade zero equates to no PYP deposition, and grade three equates to the greatest deposition of PYP. The grade can be determined by utilizing static images or a combination of SPECT/CT and static images. Methods: Using an electronic health record system, data was gathered from 154 PYP studies searching for evidence of cardiac amyloidosis. Studies were further analyzed to determine whether a SPECT/CT was performed or not, the grading of the amyloid plaque, and whether a follow-up biopsy was performed. Results: Of the 154 studies, 95 were done utilizing SPECT/CT whereas 59 were done without. Biopsies were associated with 9.4% of studies acquired utilizing SPECT/CT, and 8.4% of studies acquired utilizing static images only. The patients who underwent biopsies were graded on a scale of zero to three (SPECT/CT: Grade 0 = 2 patients, Grade 1 = 3 patients, Grade 2 = 1 patient, Grade 3 = 3 patients; Static images: Grade 0 = 1 patient, Grade 1 = 2 patients, Grade 2 = 1 patient, Grade 3 = 1 patient). A T-test was performed resulting in a T value of 0.2083 and a P value of 0.8352. Conclusions: Utilizing the data gathered, it was determined that SPECT/CT studies resulted in a higher percentage of follow up biopsies compared to those of static imaging only. Although there is a positive correlation between the use of SPECT/CT and biopsy rates, the data collected was found to have no statistical difference from those who underwent only static imaging. There was no consistency determined between the level of grading and biopsy rates. Utilizing SPECT/CT gives referring physicians more data and information for the patient’s treatment planning and results in more accurate care. Due to the invasiveness of the biopsies, four patients refused and chose palliative care instead. This aspect leads to a possible flaw in the data. Although it was determined that utilizing SPECT/CT results in a greater percentage of biopsies, the difference in results was determined to be insignificant. To further add validity and quality to the research, continuing to collect data will increase the sample size of patients who underwent biopsies. Since there was no consistency between grading and biopsy rates, the decisions behind pursuing biopsies can be further analyzed. Due to the high mortality rate associated with cardiac amyloidosis (5-year mortality rate of 65% from the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria), research could be conducted into the necessity of biopsy verses palliative care. %U