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.

Multimodality imagers play a critical role in modern heart teams
Heart teams continue to play a major role at hospitals and health systems all over the world. Cardiac imagers who have trained in multiple modalities can provide those teams with a significant amount of value.
Key trends in nuclear cardiology take center stage at ASNC 2025
Wael Jaber, MD, chair of the 2025 American Society of Nuclear Cardiology annual meeting, shared some key takeaways from the conference. “This is no longer just about imaging for coronary disease," he explained. "Nuclear cardiology now helps guide therapy across a wide range of conditions."
ASNC calls on members to fight 57% Medicare cut for cardiac amyloid imaging
Jamieson M. Bourque, MD, MHS, president-elect of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, shared the group's concerns with Cardiovascular Business. “This is going to have a highly negative impact," he said.
How nuclear cardiology has transformed care for cardiac amyloidosis
Prem Soman, MD, PhD, explained how early detection and new therapies have been game-changers for the treatment and diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.
Cardiology group thanks Taylor Swift for spreading word about nuclear stress testing
When Taylor Swift speaks, the world listens. And when she recently appeared on a podcast for the very first time, she shared the story of how a nuclear stress test saved her father's life.

DOJ targets former imaging executive with new complaint over alleged kickback scheme

Back in October, a mobile cardiac imaging provider and its CEO agreed to pay $85 million to settle allegations they had participated in a kickback scheme. This latest DOJ complaint focuses on a former executive not named in that initial settlement.

Jamie Bourque, MD, medical director of the nuclear cardiology and stress laboratory, and medical director of the echocardiography lab, at the University of Virginia, discusses a new multimodality consensus statement for imaging cardiac amyloidosis. This area has rapidly expanded over the past couple years now that there are drugs to treat the condition.

New ASNC quality metrics will support standardization of imaging for cardiac amyloidosis

Interest in cardiac amyloidosis has been on the rise in recent years. Jamie Bourque, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about an upcoming consensus statement focused on using cardiac imaging to evaluate patients for signs of this serious condition.

Rob deKemp, PhD, FASNC, University of Ottawa, Canada, explains new nuclear cardiac imaging dose lowering techniques for PET and SPECT.

How to achieve much lower radiation doses in cardiac nuclear imaging

The radiation doses associated with CT have decreased significantly, leaving nuclear cardiology as the modality with the highest doses in all of cardiac imaging. Rob deKemp, PhD, talked to us about some of the many ways imagers can work to address this issue.

Pyrophosphate imaging agent shortage reported, could last weeks

Supply chain disruptions are blamed for the lack of production.

Jamie Bourque, MD, discusses fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and its growing use cases in cardiac PET imaging He discussed the radiotracer in sessions at ASNC 2023. #ASNC #ASNC23 #ASNC2023

The expanding scope of FDG-PET in nuclear cardiac imaging

Jamie Bourque, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about the growing number of ways FDG-PET scans are being used in cardiology. This includes evaluating inflammation, tracking EP device infections and much more.

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.

Mobile imaging provider to pay $85M for false claims stemming from alleged referral scheme

The alleged kickback scheme spanned nine years, with Cardiac Imaging Inc. paying physicians "excessive fees" to oversee PET scans, the DOJ said.

Cardiologists at heart of alleged kickback scheme—imaging provider, CEO to pay $85M to settle

The allegations revolve around payments referring cardiologists received to supervise PET scans from March 2014 to May 2023.

Nuclear Cardiology

Multimodality imagers play a critical role in modern heart teams

Key trends in nuclear cardiology take center stage at ASNC 2025

ASNC calls on members to fight 57% Medicare cut for cardiac amyloid imaging

How nuclear cardiology has transformed care for cardiac amyloidosis

Cardiology group thanks Taylor Swift for spreading word about nuclear stress testing