RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 V/Q Scanning Using SPECT and SPECT/CT
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 1588
OP 1596
DO 10.2967/jnumed.113.124602
VO 54
IS 9
A1 Paul J. Roach
A1 Geoffrey P. Schembri
A1 Dale L. Bailey
YR 2013
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/54/9/1588.abstract
AB Planar ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) scanning is often used to investigate pulmonary embolism; however, it has well-recognized limitations. SPECT overcomes many of these through its ability to generate 3-dimensional imaging data. V/Q SPECT has higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy than planar imaging and a lower indeterminate rate. SPECT allows for new ways to display and analyze data, such as parametric V/Q ratio images. Compared with CT pulmonary angiography, SPECT has higher sensitivity, a lower radiation dose, fewer technically suboptimal studies, and no contrast-related complications. Any nuclear medicine department equipped with a modern hybrid scanner can now perform combined V/Q SPECT with CT (using low-dose protocols) to further enhance diagnostic accuracy. V/Q SPECT (with or without CT) has application in other pulmonary conditions and in research.