Systems and methods for enhanced diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

A method for diagnosing transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in a subject, the method comprising:

• introducing a radiotracer into a subject;
• acquiring single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image data of a cardiac region of the subject based on the uptake of the radiotracer;
• acquiring anatomical image data of the cardiac region of the subject;
• combining the SPECT image data and the anatomical image data to produce a combined three-dimensional image of the cardiac region;
• and
• comparing the radiotracer uptake present within a first volume of interest and a second volume of interest, wherein the first volume of interest is representative of the left ventricle of the subject and the second volume of interest is representative of the blood pool of the subject.

A system for diagnosing transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in a subject, the system comprising:

• a source of technetium-99m pyrophosphate radiotracer;
• means for introducing the radiotracer into a subject;
• a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system configured to acquire SPECT image data of a cardiac region of the subject based on the uptake of the radiotracer;
• an imaging system configured to acquire anatomical image data of the cardiac region of the subject;
• and
• a processor configured to combine the SPECT image data and the anatomical image data to produce a combined three-dimensional image of the cardiac region and compare the radiotracer uptake present within a first volume of interest and a second volume of interest, wherein both volumes of interest are located within the combined image of the cardiac region.