Abstract

ABSTRACT: The right ventricle is not normally displayed by studies with thallium 201 in patients at rest, but it can be shown by thallium 201 myocardial scintigraphy with pressure or volume overload of the right ventricle and with right ventricular hypertrophy. We sought to determine the frequency of right ventricular demonstration by thallium 201 in 20 patients at rest, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of varying severity studied at baseline. The ventricle was viewed in 11 of 20 patients (55%); these patients had significantly lower values for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and PO2. Eight patients had catheterization of the right side of the heart; mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly higher in patients with right ventricular visualization. We conclude that thallium 201 scintigraphy frequently shows the right ventricle in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that such visualization correlates with the severity of the ventilatory defect and with pulmonary hypertension.