Organizations are working in sync to put a focus on mandating optimized radiation doses in nuclear cardiology studies performed across the nation and beyond.

Efforts by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), the Intersocietal Accrediation Commission (IAC)’s Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are in response to the recently published research showing results of patients who were undergoing myocardial perfusion and being administered with higher radiation doses than necessary.

ASNC published guidelines and a chart for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging in ASNC Imaging Guidelines for SPECT Nuclear Cardiology Procedures: Stress Protocols and Tracers. The data provided guidance for practitioners, based on ASNC’s guiding principle of performing the most reliable and highest quality study and ultimately aiding in medical decision making and reducing risks to patients.

“ASNC is committed to supporting nuclear cardiac imaging labs’ use of the lowest radiotracer dose that maintains diagnostic image quality, in conjunction with application of Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) and the use of count recovery software for general SPECT cameras, new solid state SPECT cameras, and PET to provide the right test for the right patient,” said Brian G. Abbott, MD, ASNC President.

In an effort to ensure that facilities seeking nuclear accreditation are cautious in the patient does they administer, revisions were made to the IAC Standards and Guidelines for Nuclear/PET Accreditation. The IAC Nuclear/PET Board of Directors decided to mandate specific dose ranges for myocardial perfusion imaging studies to decrease radiation exposure while maintaining image quality, and in turn ensuring patient safety. 

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that nuclear cardiology facilities are guided to administer the lowest dose possible that provides optimal imaging results for patients referred for myocardial perfusion imaging studies,” Scott D. Jerome, DO, IAC Nuclear/PET President, said in a statement.