Diagnostic Accuracy of Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Diagnosing Stable Ischemic Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) in diagnosing Stable Ischemic Heart Disease (SIHD).

METHODS

To analyze the sensitivity and specificity of Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) in diagnosing Stable Ischemic Heart Disease (SIHD) by comparing with "gold standard" Coronary Angiogram.

RESULTS

A total of 80 patients were studied (51 male, 29 female). 52 patients had significant stenosis in coronary angiography and 49 patients had reversible perfusion defect in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). MPI had a sensitivity of 88.46% and a specificity of 89.29% in diagnosing stable ischemic heart disease.

CONCLUSION

Coronary Angiography remains the near gold standard in diagnosing ischemic heart disease but is associated with serious complications like stroke, arrhythmias, acute renal failure, infection, etc. Though Myocardial perfusion imaging cannot replace coronary angiogram, it can be used as a reliable and sensitive non-invasive alternate investigation to diagnose stable ischemic heart disease in high risk individuals who are unwilling for angiogram.