[Comparison of thallium-201 images in dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy].

Comparison of thallium-201 image between 21 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 12 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) was made in this study. All cases had abnormal thallium images. Multiple myocardial segments presenting with patchy pattern were seen in all 21 patients with DCM. 75.0% of patients with ICM also had patchy pattern on the thallium image, but the number of patchy pattern segments on image was significantly less in ICM than in DCM (P less than 0.001); complete defects on thallium image were noted in 75.0% of patients with ICM, however, only one case with DCM had complete defect on thallium scan (P less than 0.001). When the thallium image characterized by multiple patchy pattern segments without complete defects was used as a diagnostic criterion for DCM. 95.2% of patients with DCM coincide with the criterion. When the thallium image showing complete defect was used as a diagnostic criterion for ICM, 75.0% of patients with ICM coincide with the criterion. The characteristics of thallium-201 image are useful either for diagnosis of DCM and ICM or in differentiating DCM from ICM.