Improved assessment of inferior segmental wall motion by the addition of a 70-degree left anterior oblique view in multiple gated equilibrium scintigraphy.

Conventional anterior and 45-degree left anterior oblique (LAO) views are limited in the evaluation of inferior segmental wall motion by multiple gated equilibrium cardiac blood pool scintigraphy. This study evaluated the addition of a 70-degree LAO view by comparing scintigraphic and contrast ventriculography in 25 patients, of whom 17 demonstrated abnormal inferior wall motion. Abnormal inferior wall motion was correctly identified in only 10 of 17 patients in the anterior view, but in 16 of 17 patients in the 70-degree LAO view. The number of assessable inferior segments was improved from 58% in the anterior view to 98% in the 70-degree LAO view. When the inferior segments could be visualized in the anterior view, inferior wall motion was accurately assessed. The addition of the 70-degree LAO view aids in the multiple gated equilibrium scintigraphic detection of inferior wall motion abnormalities with a minor loss in specificity.