Thallium-201 scintigraphy for diagnosis of old myocardial infarction: comparison with electrocardiographic, ventriculographic, and coronary arteriographic findings.

Myocardial scintigraphy with 201Tl was performed at rest in a selected group of 36 patients with unequivocal clinical and electrocardiographic evidence of old myocardial infarction. The scintigraphic findings were correlated with electrocardiographic pattern, and with regional left ventricular wall motion and the severity of coronary artery disease defined by contrast angiography. Detection was dependent on the extent of the infarct but was independent of QRS morphology and of the severity of coronary disease. When positive, 201Tl scintigraphy was often a more precise method than the electrocardiogram for localising and delineating the extent of the infarct. Furthermore, the perfusion defect corresponded in location and extent to abnormalities of left ventricular wall motion. The site or severity of coronary artery disease could not be determined from the 201Tl scintigram.