Relative Advantages and Disadvantages of SPECT, Echocardiography, CT, and CMR
| Modality | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Gated SPECT | Simultaneous perfusion and function | Moderate temporal resolution |
| Widely available | Poor spatial resolution | |
| 3-Dimensional | Uses radiation | |
| Good image contrast | Relatively long scanning time | |
| Clinically validated | ||
| Robust | ||
| Automatic quantitation | ||
| Echocardiography | Widely available | Geometric assumptions |
| Economic | Echo window needed | |
| No radiation | Operator dependent | |
| Moderate spatial resolution | Subjective analysis | |
| Mostly 2-dimensional | ||
| CT | 3-Dimensional | Needs contrast agent |
| Quantitative | Need to move imaging gantry | |
| Wider bore scanner than CMR | Short-axis approximation only | |
| High spatial resolution | Uses x-rays | |
| CMR | 3-Dimensional | Expensive |
| No radiation | Limited availability | |
| Quantitative | Limited expertise | |
| Good spatial resolution | Developmental |
CMR = cardiovascular MRI.