Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (632 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Imaging of a ventricle of the heart after the injection of a radioactive contrast medium. The technique is less invasive than cardiac catheterization and is used to assess ventricular function.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ventriculography, Radionuclide.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Radionuclide Angiography; Heart Function Tests
- Narrower topics
- Gated Blood-Pool Imaging; Ventriculography, First-Pass
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 3,510 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Radionuclide Ventriculography” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 57 of them (1.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 1,865 records.
Reviews account for 276 records (7.9%) and meta-analyses for 4. Randomized controlled trials number 173 (4.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,865 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,184 |
| 2010-2019 | 404 |
| 2020 onward | 57 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 276 | 7.9% |
| Meta-analyses | 4 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 173 | 4.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Radionuclide Ventriculography"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNP predicts chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and death: comparison with gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography | 2014 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 78 | cc by PMID 24800827 · DOI · PMC4011788 |
| Comparison of phase dyssynchrony analysis using gated myocardial perfusion imaging with four software programs: Based on the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group normal database | 2017 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 59 | cc by PMID 26860109 · DOI · PMC5413527 |
| Clinical and economic impact of multiple gated acquisition scan monitoring during anthracycline therapy | 2002 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 11870511 · DOI · PMC2375190 |
BNP predicts chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and death: comparison with gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- UnlabelledCardiotoxicity is a dose-limiting side-effect of cancer chemotherapeutics such as anthracyclines.
- Closing excerpt
- This prospective study based on the hitherto largest study population supports BNP as a clinical relevant method for monitoring chemotherapy-related cardiac failure and death.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (239 words)
UnlabelledCardiotoxicity is a dose-limiting side-effect of cancer chemotherapeutics such as anthracyclines. The drug-induced cardiac toxicity is currently monitored with repeated assessments of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) using multigated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (MUGA) or echocardiography. However, the plasma cardiac biomarker B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been suggested for early identification of cardiac dysfunction. The aim of the study was to compare LVEF obtained by MUGA and plasma BNP as predictors of developing congestive heart failure (CHF) or death in a population of anthracycline-treated cancer patients.MethodsWe prospectively followed 333 cancer patients referred to our department for routine monitoring of LVEF with MUGA and measurement of BNP, January-December 2004. Study end points were hospitalization for CHF and death during follow-up 2004-2010. Data were obtained from the Danish National Patient Registry.ResultsDuring follow-up (mean 1,360 days), 21 of the patients were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of CHF and 194 of the patients died. BNP levels were significantly higher and LVEF lower in the group of patients that developed CHF. Using cut-off points of BNP>100 pg/ml (HR 5.5; CI 1.8-17.2; p = 0.003) and LVEF ConclusionIn cancer patients treated with cardiotoxic chemotherapy both BNP and LVEF can significantly predict subsequent hospitalization with CHF. In addition, BNP and not LVEF has a prognostic value in detecting overall death. This prospective study based on the hitherto largest study population supports BNP as a clinical relevant method for monitoring chemotherapy-related cardiac failure and death.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 24800827 · DOI · PMC4011788
Comparison of phase dyssynchrony analysis using gated myocardial perfusion imaging with four software programs: Based on the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group normal database [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeLeft ventricular (LV) phase dyssynchrony parameters based on gated myocardial perfusion imaging varied among software programs.
- Closing excerpt
- 3 for QGS (P ConclusionBased on normal ranges of phase dyssynchrony parameters in four software programs, dependency on genders, LV volume, and EF should be considered, indicating the need for careful comparison among different software programs.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (125 words)
PurposeLeft ventricular (LV) phase dyssynchrony parameters based on gated myocardial perfusion imaging varied among software programs. The aim of this study was to determine normal ranges and factors affecting phase parameters.MethodsNormal databases were derived from the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group (n = 69). The programs were Emory Cardiac Toolbox with SyncTool (ECTb), Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS), Heart Function View (HFV), and cardioREPO (cREPO); parameters of phase standard deviation (PSD), 95% bandwidth, and entropy were compared with parameters with ECTb as a reference.ResultsPSD (degree) was 5.3 ± 3.3 for QGS (P ConclusionBased on normal ranges of phase dyssynchrony parameters in four software programs, dependency on genders, LV volume, and EF should be considered, indicating the need for careful comparison among different software programs.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 26860109 · DOI · PMC5413527
Clinical and economic impact of multiple gated acquisition scan monitoring during anthracycline therapy [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The clinical and economic impacts of monitoring cardiac function in patients given doxorubicin have yet to be determined, especially in relation to patient age, cumulative doxorubicin dose, and the relative efficacies of doxorubicin-based vs alternative regimens.
- Closing excerpt
- The use of multiple gated acquisition scans for pretreatment screening appears to be more cost-effective for patients who are 40 years or older, when cumulative doxorubicin dose is 350 mg m(-2) or less.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (268 words)
The clinical and economic impacts of monitoring cardiac function in patients given doxorubicin have yet to be determined, especially in relation to patient age, cumulative doxorubicin dose, and the relative efficacies of doxorubicin-based vs alternative regimens. We developed a decision analysis model that includes these factors to estimate the incremental survival benefit and cost-effectiveness of using multiple gated acquisition scans to measure left-ventricular ejection fraction before and during doxorubicin chemotherapy. Probability distributions for the incidences of abnormal left-ventricular ejection fraction findings and congestive heart failure were derived from a retrospective review of 227 consecutive cases at The University of Michigan Medical Center and published findings. Multiple gated acquisition-scan monitoring minimally improved the probability of 5-year survival (<1.5% in the base--case scenario). For patients who received up to 350 mg m(-2) of doxorubicin, multiple gated acquisition-scan screening had an incremental cost of $425 402 per life saved for patients between the ages of 15--39. This incremental cost markedly decreased to $138 191, for patients between the ages of 40--59, and to $86 829 for patients older than 60 years. The small gain in 5-year survival probability secondary to multiple gated acquisition scan monitoring doubled for all age groups when the average cumulative dose for doxorubicin reached 500 mg m(-2). Variations in the cure rate differences between the doxorubicin and alternative regimens had insignificant effects on the improvement in 5-year survival rates from multiple gated acquisition-scan screening. The use of multiple gated acquisition scans for pretreatment screening appears to be more cost-effective for patients who are 40 years or older, when cumulative doxorubicin dose is 350 mg m(-2) or less.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 11870511 · DOI · PMC2375190
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Apical ballooning syndrome (Tako-Tsubo or stress cardiomyopathy): a mimic of acute myocardial infarction [4]
- Research article Prognostic value of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT [5]
- Research article Iodinated blood pool contrast media for preclinical X-ray imaging applications--a review [6]
- Research article American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and Society of Nuclear Medicine joint position statement: attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion SPECT scintigraphy [7]
- Research article Accuracy of cardiac CT, radionucleotide and invasive ventriculography, two- and three-dimensional echocardiography, and SPECT for left and right ventricular ejection fraction compared with cardiac MRI: a meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Assessment of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony by phase analysis of ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging [9]
References
- Skovgaard D, Hasbak P, Kjaer A. BNP predicts chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and death: comparison with gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography. . 2014. PMID 24800827 · DOI · PMC4011788
- Nakajima K, Okuda K, Matsuo S, Kiso K, Kinuya S, Garcia EV. Comparison of phase dyssynchrony analysis using gated myocardial perfusion imaging with four software programs: Based on the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group normal database. . 2017. PMID 26860109 · DOI · PMC5413527
- Shureiqi I, Cantor SB, Lippman SM, Brenner DE, Chernew ME, Fendrick AM. Clinical and economic impact of multiple gated acquisition scan monitoring during anthracycline therapy. . 2002. PMID 11870511 · DOI · PMC2375190
- Prasad A, Lerman A, Rihal CS. Apical ballooning syndrome (Tako-Tsubo or stress cardiomyopathy): a mimic of acute myocardial infarction. Am Heart J. 2008. PMID 18294473 · DOI
- Shaw LJ, Iskandrian AE. Prognostic value of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Cardiol. 2004. PMID 15052249 · DOI
- Hallouard F, Anton N, Choquet P, Constantinesco A, Vandamme T. Iodinated blood pool contrast media for preclinical X-ray imaging applications--a review. Biomaterials. 2010. PMID 20510444 · DOI
- Heller GV, Links J, Bateman TM, Ziffer JA, Ficaro E, Cohen MC, et al.. American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and Society of Nuclear Medicine joint position statement: attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion SPECT scintigraphy. J Nucl Cardiol. 2004. PMID 15052255 · DOI
- Pickett CA, Cheezum MK, Kassop D, Villines TC, Hulten EA. Accuracy of cardiac CT, radionucleotide and invasive ventriculography, two- and three-dimensional echocardiography, and SPECT for left and right ventricular ejection fraction compared with cardiac MRI: a meta-analysis. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2015. PMID 25736307 · DOI
- Chen J, Henneman MM, Trimble MA, Bax JJ, Borges-Neto S, Iskandrian AE, et al.. Assessment of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony by phase analysis of ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging. J Nucl Cardiol. 2008. PMID 18242490 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.