The Hurricane Sign

SPECT studies are often used with myocardial perfusion studies for evaluation of ischemia. Long acquisition times for SPECT images increase susceptibility to artifacts, especially those caused by patient motion. The hurricane sign refers to an artifact caused by lateral patient motion during image acquisition. On the short axis views a circular object with spirals extending from the 12:00 and 6:00 positions causing discontinuity in the ventricular walls is seen. This pattern does not correspond with normal coronary artery anatomy.


REFERENCES
Burrell S and MacDonald A. Artifacts and pitfalls in myocardial perfusion imaging. J Nucl Med Technol 2006;34:193-211.
Sorrell V, Figueroa B, Hansen CL. The "hurricane sign": evidence of patient motion artifact on cardiac single photon emission computed tomographic imaging. J Nucl Cardiol 1996;3:86-8.