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What is diaphragmatic attenuation?
I was told that both the exercise and resting studies demonstrated a mild inferior infero-lateral wall deficit which paradoxically appeared worse on the resting study and that the latter is likely to be an artifact due to diaphragmatic attenuation. What does this mean?
submitted by Uranus from Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on 1/18/2011
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Domingo Gonzalez, MD
When the heart absorbs the nuclear chemical, it then gives off electrons [signals] of a certain and specific energy. These are then looked for and captured and recorded by the imaging camera. The nuclear chemical has to pass through the body first. In some people more than others, the diaphragm gets in the way and captures some of these signals. This results in fewer signals reaching the imaging camera and the image is attenuated (weakened) relative to the other segments. The diaphragm most often attenuates the inferior and adjacent ventricular segments.
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Updated January 2011