Nuclear Cardiology

Single photon computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging are used as primary cardiac imaging modalities to evaluate the function of the heart. It uses radioactive isotopes attached to sugars that are metabolized by cardiomyocytes. This creates an image of the metabolic activity of the heart and shows areas of ischemia or infarct. Other radiotracers can image the heart to diagnosis cardiac amyloidosis and sarcoidosis. 

cardiac amyloidosis on bone scan

ASNC reports shortage of cardiac amyloidosis radiotracers

The two vendors involved say supplies of PYP and HDP could be disrupted for months.

PET-CT imaging of 124-I evuzamitide and SPECT-CT imaging of 99mTc-p5+14 showed radiotracer uptake in both AL and ATTR amyloid throughout the myocardium. Emily B. Martin, Anne Kassira, Alan Stuckey, et al. A tale of two tracers - Amyloid imaging with investigational radiotracers iodine (124I) evuzamitide and 99mTc-p5+14 (AT-05). https://www.journalofnuclearcardiology.org/article/S1071-3581(25)00325-3/abstract.

Bayer expands into molecular imaging with cardiac amyloidosis tracer acquisitions

Bayer is acquiring two cardiac amyloidosis radiotracers from Attralus, one for PET and one for SPECT. The SPECT tracer is also a theranostic agent to both image and treat amyloidosis.

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Lantheus completes sale of SPECT business

Lantheus has signaled that the decision to sell its SPECT business will allow the company to focus more on growing its portfolio of PET radiodiagnostics and microbubbles. 

Positron NeuSight PET-CT 64 slice scanner

Positron raises $2M to expand PET-CT commercialization

The New York-based imaging company is now focused on expanding sales for the cost-effective PET-CT system it developed with Neusoft Medical Systems.

The new cardiac PET radiotracer flurpiridaz F-18 is posed to be a major game changer and will likely lead to increased adoption of cardiac PET.

Largest network of private cardiology groups in US to deploy GE HealthCare's cardiac PET tracer

One of the tracer’s more significant advantages is its extended half-life of 109 minutes—significantly longer than other currently available PET MPI imaging agents.

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) President-elect Jamieson M. Bourque, MD, MHS, FASNC, medical director of nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and the stress laboratory at UVA Health in Charlottesville, and a professor of medicine and radiology at the University of Virginia, explains some of the new things ASNC will be doing in 2026

Collaborations, guidelines and grants: ASNC shares big plans for 2026

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President-elect Jamieson M. Bourque, MD, detailed just some of what the group has planned for 2026. For example, ASNC will be working on the development of multiple new guidelines designed to help clinicians provide high-quality care.

PET study targets inflammation to predict AMI recovery

Inflammation-targeting PET method predicts recovery after heart attack

Targeting CXCR4 during PET scans could help providers gain vital information regarding patients' potential to fully recover from myocardial infarction. 

Nuclear cardiology is entering a new era—one that goes well beyond the traditional focus on myocardial perfusion imaging. According to Marcelo Di Carli, MD, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology and chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the field is rapidly expanding into diagnosing and monitoring complex cardiac diseases such as amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, myocarditis, and cardiac infections.

Nuclear cardiology expands beyond perfusion imaging as it enters a new era

Beyond amyloidosis, nuclear cardiology is also increasingly used to image inflammation and infection in the myocardium, especially in diseases such as cardiac sarcoidosis and myocarditis.