ASNC, SNMMI Support Myocardial Perfusion PET in Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis, Management

September 1, 2016 — The American Society for Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) e-published a new position statement supporting myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography (PET) in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. The statement explains why it is the most useful imaging modality and provides guidance as to when it should be considered for optimal patient care.

The Position Paper states that, in view of its high diagnostic accuracy, strong prognostic power, low radiation dose and consistent high-quality images, myocardial perfusion PET should be considered the preferred, first-line test for all patients who meet the appropriate criteria for a stress imaging test, are unable to complete a diagnostic-level of exercise and require pharmacologic stress. Myocardial perfusion PET is also the recommended test when previous stress imaging is equivocal, of poor quality or inconclusive; in high-risk patients in whom diagnostic errors carry even greater clinical implications; in patients with certain body characteristics that commonly affect image quality; and in younger patients to minimize accumulated life-time radiation exposure.

Bracco Diagnostics manufactures the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved generator-based PET perfusion agent for the evaluation of patients with suspected or existing coronary artery disease.

Read the full statement here