Cost-effectiveness of myocardial perfusion imaging: A summary of the currently available literature

In summary, evidence is convincing that, for the intermediate-risk patient, initial investigation with SPECT studies is a cost-efficient approach. In special populations including emergency-department (ED) patients, diabetic patients, and women, there is additional information indicating the cost effectiveness of SPECT. For low-risk patients, cost-effective strategy appears to be stress ECG, with the selective use of SPECT for a patient whose initial test is abnormal. For high-risk patients, cardiac catheterization is in most analyses found to be the most effective diagnostic approach. However, some believe that initial SPECT studies are nevertheless indicated even in stable patients with a high probability of coronary disease because these studies can provide additional data to help direct the most effective use of revascularization therapy. Copyright © 2005 by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.