Abstract
Aim
This paper presents the results of the 10th survey of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) from the year 2024.
Methods
A total of 198 questionnaires were evaluated, comprising 115 practices (PR), 57 hospitals
(HO) and 26 university hospitals (UH). The results of the previous survey 2021 are
shown in squared brackets.
Results
MPS data from 128.707 [133.057] patients (–3.3%) with 125.175 [131.868] stress and
102.903 [106.546] rest MPS were analysed. A comparison with official data revealed
that 53% of all MPS were recorded. From 2018 to 2024, official data showed an increase
in MPS every year. In 2024, on average, 650 [610] MPS patients (+7%) were examined
in each department. Of the participating departments, 69% [74%] reported an increase
or no changes in their patient numbers. As always ambulatory care cardiologists represented
the major referral group (68% [69%]). Pharmacological stress was performed more frequently
than ergometry (43% [42%]). Regadenoson was mostly used. The use of the different
protocols remained almost unchanged. Two-day protocols were predominantly applied
(49% [49%]). Multi-head cameras were used in (56% [58%] of the departments and SPECT-CT
systems in (31% [28%]). Attenuation correction was performed in 35% [33%] of all MPS.
95% [89%] of all stress, 93% [88%] of all rest and 92% [87%] of all stress and rest
scan were acquired as gated SPECT. 84% [72%] of the departments performed scoring
by default. The proportion of departments not scoring decreased to 4% [13%].
Conclusions
The MPS 2024 survey indicates that the long-term positive development of MPS imaging
is continuing. The procedural and technical details of MPS imaging demonstrate a high
level of conformity with guidelines, with a slight improvement observed from 2021
to 2024.
Keywords
Myocardial perfusion SPECT - utilization review - utilization statistics - numerical
data - ATTR imaging