Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine (also called molecular imaging) includes positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Nuclear imaging is achieved by injecting small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) into patients before or during their scan. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT. But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders.

Medicare drops AUC requirement for advanced imaging, ASNC celebrates
"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.
SPECT still has an important role to play in nuclear cardiology
"I see, at least for the next decade, this being a SPECT and PET world, not one or the other," explained Tim Bateman, MD.
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections
Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.
ASNC president advocates for Medicare reimbursement reform
Lawrence Phillips, MD, president of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, said that U.S. physicians are growing more and more frustrated by Medicare policies.
ASNC president pushes to modernize nuclear cardiology, expand the specialty's reach
ASNC President Lawrence Phillips, MD, wants to see nuclear cardiologists modernize their labs and embrace new strategies for the evaluation of amyloidosis, sarcoidosis and inflammation.

Robert Hendel, MD, Tulane University and former ASNC president, explains the pressing business aspects of nuclear cardiology and why ASNC included business management sessions at its 2023 annual meeting. #ASNC #ASNC23 #ASNC2023

Business considerations in the modern nuclear cardiology practice

Robert Hendel, MD, discussed everything from declining reimbursements in cardiology to prior authorization policies in an exclusive new interview.

October 13, 2023

Timothy Bateman, MD, co-director, cardiovascular radiologic imaging program, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, and an ASNC past-president, is one of the authors on the AURORA study. He spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the study and what it is like to work with flurpiridaz.

Flurpiridaz will have a major impact on cardiac PET and nuclear imaging

The new radiotracer flurpiridaz is poised to make a major impact on nuclear cardiology. Timothy Bateman, MD, co-director of the cardiovascular radiologic imaging program at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, shared details on the tracer in a new interview.

October 10, 2023

Video interview with ASNC President President Mouaz Al-Mallah, MD, who explains why nuclear cardiology needs to upgrade its technology to be competitive. #ASNC #ASNC2023 #ASNC23

Previewing ASNC 2023: Why nuclear cardiology needs to evolve

ASNC President President Mouaz Al-Mallah, MD, said nuclear cardiology needs to upgrade old imaging systems and embrace new technology to deliver better value for patients.

September 19, 2023

Advanced imaging does not always improve outcomes, data suggest

Although advanced imaging exams have proven benefits in defining disease severity, new data indicate that more sophisticated studies might not impact outcomes as much as previously thought.

March 13, 2023

‘Revolutionary’ new CT scans identify the most common cause of high blood pressure

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one the single most common causes of hypertension, but identifying patients with PA—and knowing which ones may benefit from a surgical treatment—can be quite challenging.

January 17, 2023

Cardiac amyloidosis becoming less rare thanks to nuclear medicine studies

A new study in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine offers insight into how the condition affects the general population, as well as how radiologists can help in the cardiac amyloidosis diagnostic journey.

January 4, 2023

Cardiac SPECT nuclear imaging myocardial perfusion_Spectrum Dynamics_RSNA22_DF_3.jpeg

ASNC 2023 president calls for nuclear cardiology to embrace new technology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2023 President Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, MD, said the subspecialty needs to up its game with new technology.

January 3, 2023

Veteran cardiologist, viewed by many as the founder of nuclear cardiology, dies at 82

Barry L. Zaret, MD, was an influential cardiologist, accomplished poet and veteran of the United States Air Force.

October 28, 2022

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Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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