Nuclear cardiology in Iran in ۲۰۰۲ [Persian]

Aim: Few nuclear cardiology surveys were published in the literature, mostly from developed countries. The aim of this study is to perform a nuclear cardiology survey in Iran. This may lead to better decision making and programming. Methods and Materials: A questionnaire was sent by mail or e-mail to all nuclear medicine centers in Iran asking for details of nuclear cardiology practice in year ۲۰۰۲. Also ownership of the centers, number and type of gamma cameras and number of cardiac studies in each week were recorded. Some centers were studied using telephone interviews. Results: From ۷۹ nuclear medicine centers in Iran, ۵۵ centers (۶۹.۶%) filled the questionnaire including ۲۸ centers in Tehran and ۲۷ centers in other cities. Among them ۲۷ centers were private clinics. There was ۶۹ gamma cameras in these centers, ۶۲.۳% with SPECT capability. It is estimated that we may have ۱۰۰ gamma cameras in Iran. About ۸۵.۵% of centers perform cardiac studies routinely. Tc-۹۹m-MIBI is used in more than ۸۵.۷% of the studies and some centers do not use Tl-۲۰۱. Pharmacological stress with infusion of Dipyridamole is used in ۵۶.۷% of the studies and treadmill is the main type of physical exercise (۴۰.۲%). SPECT technique was used in ۹۳% of studies including ۲.۵% of gated SPECT. About ۶۴.۳% of centers used two day protocol for imaging. Our study showed that about ۶۵۵۹۴ cardiac studies were done in Iran each year with myocardial perfusion scan accounting for about ۹۹.۲% of the studies. Considering population of the country (About ۶۵ millions) nuclear cardiology activity will be about ۱.۰۱ study/۱۰۰۰/year. For viability assessment, Tl-۲۰۱ with rest redistribution technique is used in ۱۰.۷% of cases while re-injection is used in ۲۹.۸% of cases and TNG augmented Tc-۹۹m-MIBI injection at rest in ۵۹.۵%. Discussion: Activity of nuclear cardiology is about ۱۵ studies/۱۰۰۰ population/year in USA and ۲.۲ studies/۱۰۰۰/year in Europe. Although it is not uniformly practiced in different countries of Europe, however the numbers indicate that nuclear cardiology is underutilized in Iran (Less than half of the European mean). Education of the physicians as well as upgrading gamma cameras will improve practice of nuclear cardiology in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Iran ، Nuclear cardiology ، Nuclear medicine ، Cardiac disease