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. 

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Greg Piefer, PhD, CEO and founder of Shine, explains the timeline to restart U.S. production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for nuclear imaging.

Shine working toward U.S. production of Mo-99 for SPECT nuclear imaging

Greg Piefer, PhD, chief executive and founder of Shine, a Wisconsin-based radiopharmaceutical company that is building the world’s largest medical isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin, explains progress on the company's fusion reactor that will become the first sustained U.S. commercial supplier of molybdenum-99 in decades.

Molecular Imaging PET and SPECT sign in GE booth ACC23.

Shine working toward U.S. production of Mo-99 for SPECT imaging

Greg Piefer, PhD, chief executive and founder of SHINE, a Wisconsin-based radiopharmaceutical company that is building the world’s largest medical isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin, explains progress on the company's fusion reactor that will become the first U.S. commercial supplier of molybdenum-99 in decades.

Suman Tandon, MD, FASNC, a cardiac imager at St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center, in Rosyln, New York, and an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) representative to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD), explains ASNC’s call on Congress for to reduce prior authorization, appropriate use mandates and to make Medicare payment reforms.

ASNC lobbies Congress to curb prior authorization, oppose AUC mandates and embrace payment reform

Suman Tandon, MD, an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology board member, explains the group's call on Congress to update a number of healthcare policies. 

3 industry partnerships, 1 clinical aim: Enriching the global supply chain of medical isotopes

Nuclear medicine operations may soon enjoy steadier flows of certain in-demand radioisotopes. If so, much credit will go to companies that had the strategic sense to collaborate with each other. 

Imagers reviewing flurpiridaz F-18 (Flyrcado) myocardial perfusion PET images. Image from GE Healthcare

FDA-cleared software increases throughput for flurpiridaz back-to-back rest-stress imaging

The new F-18 flurpiridaz radiotracer is expected to help drive cardiac PET growth, but it requires waiting between rest and stress scans. Software from MultiFunctional Imaging can help care teams combat that problem.

Part of the ASNC delegation that visited with congressional members to to explain policy and payment challenges that face. Members of ASNC's Health Policy Committee from left: Daniel Huck, MD, MPH, David E. Winchester, MD, MS, FASNC, Suman Tandon, MD, FASNC, Vikas Veeranna, MD, Friederike Keating, MD, FASNC, and Attila Feher, MD, PhD.

ASNC speaks to members of Congress about major trends in cardiology

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology made its voice heard, pushing for legislation to repeal Medicare payment cuts and tie payments to inflationary increases. Prior authorization and a proposed tariff on radioisotopes were also discussed.

ASNC, ACC ask US government not to tariff radiopharmaceuticals

The two groups stressed that tariffs would likely impact patient care.

Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US

"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.

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