ECG-gated blood pool emission tomography is a relatively new technique, and this study establishes a simple method for displaying the three dimensional data obtained, determines a normal range for ejection fraction in all regions of the left ventricle, and compares wall motion in abnormal subjects with that determined by X-ray contrast ventriculography. The short axis sections dividing the ventricle in slices from apex to base, were used to calculate ejection fraction for all parts of the ventricle and the results were plotted on a single colour coded circular image. The apex was represented in the centre, the base around the circumference, and all other parts of the ventricle were represented in between. The image was divided into 15 segments, and normal segmental ejection fraction was defined as within two standard deviations of the mean in a group of 10 normal subjects. In 25 subjects with coronary artery disease, motion of the anterior, apical, and inferior walls agreed in every case with the right anterior oblique contrast ventriculogram, but in 12 of these, the three dimensional ejection fraction image showed abnormal septal motion, and in a further 3, abnormal lateral wall motion in addition. In the 12 subjects there was diseasemore » of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and in the further 3 there was left circumflex disease. ECG-gated blood pool emission tomography thus provides an accurate quantitative assessment of left ventricular wall motion in three dimensions, and has significant advantages over conventional planar techniques.« less