Does Three-Dimensional Display of SPECT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if volume-rendered three-dimensional displays could improve the accuracy of reporting renal cortical scars in patients imaged with mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). Methods: We compared volume-rendered three-dimensional displays of SPECT data for 20 patients, with a total of 37 kidneys, with SPECT data displayed as transaxial, coronal and sagittal slices as well as planar images. All patients were imaged 2-3 hr after administration of a standard dose of 2 mCi (74 MBq) of mTc DMSA and the results were reported using two readings of the images 14 days apart. Results: SPECT imaging displayed as transaxial, coronal and sagittal views improved the number of scars found by 21 %. This was increased to 30% when a three-dimensional display was used. Also the use of a three-dimensional display allowed normal variants such as surface folds and hepatic impressions to be more easily identified. Conclusion: Volume-rendered three-dimensional display of mTc DMSA SPECT data increases the number of defects reported as renal cortical scars. Further work is needed to determine if this improvement is clinically relevant.