This course will strengthen interpretation skills and improve quality as it relates to SPECT cardiac Imaging studies performed in the nuclear cardiology lab. World renown faculty will demonstrate how they interpret and report nuclear cardiology studies in their routine practices. The activity will enhance patient first imaging.

This activity is targeted at imaging professionals and is intended to provide the latest information on clinical practice and cutting-edge scientific advances in nuclear cardiology and cardiac imaging.

After participating in this activity, learners should be able to achieve the following:
• Describe best practices in cardiac single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acquisition, processing and interpretation, and how they impact clinical practice
• Employ optimal methodology to interpret and report nuclear cardiology studies
• Identify the strengths and limitations of SPECT instrumentation and software
• Define ways to avoid image artifacts in SPECT imaging

This program will increase learners' competence in solving technical and clinical issues facing imaging professionals running nuclear cardiology laboratories.

Performing appropriate high-quality nuclear cardiology testing is critical to maximizing patient care. For nuclear cardiology and multimodality imagers, radionuclide-based cardiac imaging studies, including myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), play an important role in the diagnosis and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease. Today more than 5000 laboratories are performing an estimated 8 million myocardial perfusion studies of which 58% use pharmacological stress agents, either alone or with exercise. [DAIC 2013] A large body of scientific evidence exists on the clinical value of MPI, based on studies performed on many thousands of patients. These studies are highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response of coronary artery disease, as well as for selection of patients who may benefit from other types of intervention, including revascularization and device therapy. The value and justification of MPI for risk assessment is based on large observational outcome studies. As a result of the recognized clinical value and cost-effectiveness of these studies, they have been incorporated into many ACC/American Heart Association (AHA)/ASNC clinical management guidelines. Advances in the field of cardiac imaging require that those involved in providing nuclear cardiology studies to be continuously updated to ensure that the procedures are used appropriately and safely and that recent clinical and technological advances are incorporated in a timely manner to continue to improve the image quality and interpretation to provide the best clinical care.

Evaluation deadlines: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and Participation Credits- November 7, 2022. The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.



Physicians: The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

As an accredited provider of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Commercial Support. In compliance with these standards, it is ASNC's policy to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific merit in all of its educational activities through the disclosure of relevant financial relationship with commercial companies and resolution of conflicts of interest. The financial interest or relationships requiring disclosure are outlined in ASNC's CME Conflict of Interest Policy. All planners, reviewers, and presenters involved with this activity were required to disclose any relevant financial relationships.

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology has reviewed this activity’s faculty disclosures and resolved or managed all identified conflicts of interest.

The following planners, presenters, peer reviewers, and staff reported no financial relationships:
Dennis Calnon, MD
Gabriel Grossman, MD
Wael Jaber, MD
Randall Thompson, MD
Renee Bullock-Palmer, MD (Reviewer)
Andrew Crean, MD (Reviewer)
Michelle Klinke (ASNC staff)
Wendy Passerell (ASNC staff)

The following planners, presenters, peer reviewers, staff reported financial relationships:
Saurabh Malhotra, MD: Consultant – Alnylam; Speaker's Bureau – Alnylam, Pfizer
Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD: Consultant – BioClinica, GE Healthcare, Medtrace; Royalty – UptoDate
W. Lane Duvall, MD: Consultant – GE Healthcare; RGS – GE Healthcare
Ronald Schwartz, MD: Speaker's Bureau – Astellas

Release Date: November 8, 2021

Expiration Date: November 7, 2022

Please click to access Learner's Bill of Rights

This activity has no commercial support.

To receive CME credit, participants must successfully complete the post-test. A score of 75% or higher is needed to pass the post-test. After successfully completing the post-test and evaluation form, participants will be able to generate a CME certificate.

Windows Requirements:
Operating system: Windows 10+
Browser: Chrome v90.0+, Firefox v84.0+, Edge v90.0+
Internet connection: DSL, cable modem, or other high-speed connection

Macintosh Requirements:
Operating system: Mac OS X 10.6.8+
Browser: Mozilla Firefox v84.0+, Safari 14+, Chrome v90.0+
Internet connection: DSL, cable modem, or other high-speed connection

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
9302 Lee Highway, Suite 1210
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Phone: 703-459-2555 | FAX: 301-215-7113 | Email: info@asnc.org