Normal Stress-Only Gated SPECT Associated With Low Cardiovascular Risk

Background: Previous studies have indicated that patients with a normal stress-only myocardial perfusion scan have a subsequent cardiovascular event rate of 1% per year or less. Objective: To determine the prognosis of patients with a normal gated SPECT stress-only myocardial perfusion scan. Design: Retrospective cohort study of the records of 790 patients with a normal stress-only gated SPECT myocardial perfusion scan. Methods: Patients underwent stress-only gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging utilizing 10 to 15 mCi of 99m Tc-tetrofosmin. A normal stress-only scan was defined as normal perfusion in the presence of a normal left-ventricular ejection fraction. Standard demographic data were collected. Study end points were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and myocardial revascularization. Mean follow-up was 42.8 months. Results: The mean age of the studied patients was 63 years, and 48% were men, 22% were diabetic, 24% had coronary artery disease more...