A fixed inferior perfusion defect refers to a persistent area of reduced blood flow in the inferior region of the heart, typically observed during imaging studies like a myocardial perfusion scan. This defect suggests that the affected area is permanently damaged, often due to previous myocardial infarction or chronic ischemia, indicating that the heart tissue in that region is not receiving adequate blood supply. Unlike transient defects, which may indicate reversible conditions, fixed defects are associated with more severe underlying cardiac issues.
A fixed apical defect on a nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion scan is most likely due to an attenuation artifact caused by breast tissue, diaphragm, or body habitus. This artifact decreases the amount of radiation reaching the camera, resulting in a false defect in the apical region of the heart.
A perfusion defect means blood is not flowing normally in that section.
A small perfusion defect of the left ventricular (LV) apex and distal anterior wall, observed in a myocardial perfusion study, suggests reduced blood flow to these areas, which could indicate ischemia or infarction. The mention of "chest wall attenuation" refers to the phenomenon where the overlying chest wall tissues absorb or scatter the imaging signal, potentially obscuring the true myocardial perfusion status. This attenuation can lead to misinterpretation of the defect, emphasizing the importance of correlating imaging findings with clinical context and possibly utilizing additional imaging modalities for accurate diagnosis.
fixed
In humans, yes. ("Inferior" in this sense means "below", and if your nipples are above your shoulders, that's a pretty serious birth defect.)
A reversible inferolateral defect seen on a myocardial perfusion imaging scan typically indicates reduced blood flow to the inferior and lateral walls of the heart during stress, but this impairment is reversible with rest. It suggests the presence of ischemia in those regions and may indicate potential underlying coronary artery disease. Follow-up testing and evaluation by a healthcare provider is usually recommended to further assess the significance of this finding.
a prior myocardial infarction
An inferior wall defect refers to a specific type of electrical conduction abnormality in the heart, often identified on an electrocardiogram (ECG). It typically indicates issues in the inferior portion of the heart, commonly associated with ischemia or damage to the heart muscle, particularly involving the right coronary artery. This defect can manifest as ST-segment elevation or depression, signaling potential heart conditions such as a myocardial infarction. Diagnosis and management usually involve further cardiac evaluation and treatment to address the underlying causes.
A partially reversible defect of the inferolateral wall typically refers to a condition observed in cardiac imaging, such as a myocardial perfusion scan or cardiac MRI, where there is reduced blood flow or function in the inferolateral region of the heart muscle. This defect may indicate underlying ischemia or previous myocardial injury, but it is not completely fixed, meaning some functional recovery is possible with appropriate treatment, such as revascularization or lifestyle modifications. The term emphasizes the potential for improvement in heart function in that specific area, depending on the severity and duration of the underlying condition.
Severely reduced perfusion in the inferior wall of the heart typically indicates compromised blood flow to that area, often due to coronary artery disease or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying the inferior wall, such as the right coronary artery. This can lead to ischemia, resulting in symptoms like chest pain or heart failure. If left untreated, it may progress to myocardial infarction (heart attack), damaging the heart muscle. Timely medical intervention is crucial to restore blood flow and prevent further complications.
When a test fails because of the defect then that defect is reported and a new version of the software is expected that has had the defect fixed. In this case we need to execute the test again to confirm that whether the defect got actually fixed or not. This is known as confirmation testing and also known as re-testing. It is important to ensure that the test is executed in exactly the same way it was the first time using the same inputs, data and environments. Hence, when the change is made to the defect in order to fix it then confirmation testing or re-testing is helpful.
Retesting means testing the functionality or bug again to ensure the code is fixed. If it is not fixed, defect needs to be re-opened. If fixed, defect is closed. Regression testing means testing your software application when it undergoes a code change to ensure that the new code has not affected other parts of the software.