Location of myocardium at risk in comparison between single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and electrocardiography

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that perfusion SPECT, estimation of regional wall thickening using MRI and the distribution of ST changes on the admission ECG display similar localization of the MaR in patients with reperfused first-time MI. Eleven patients with first-time MI with ST-elevation underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), SPECT imaging within 3 hours of the PCI and Cardiac MRI the day after admission. All images were presented in polar plots and compared with polar plots generated from the initial ECG´s, based upon ST-changes. Comparison of the displays reveals similarity of location of myocardium at risk by all three methods in 73% of the patients, between SPECT and ECG in 91% of the patients, and between SPECT and wall thickening by MRI in 73% of the patient.