The overall goal of this webinar is to address knowledge and competence gaps related to reading and interpreting multimodality PET-CT imaging for cardiac and non-cardiac findings, selecting a model for reading CT attenuation correction scans, requirements for technologists to perform the CT portion of PET-CT, and insights into hybrid imaging coding and billing issues.

This educational activity will target general cardiologists, nuclear cardiologists, multimodality imagers, and technologists.

After participating in this activity, learners should be able to achieve the following:
• Demonstrate a systematic approach to reading CT images
• Define requirements and regulatory issues impacting technologists
• Identify models used for reading CT attenuation correction scans
• Illustrate diagnoses and incidental findings relevant to cardiac PET-CT that should not be missed
• Understand relevant coding and billing issues regarding hybrid imaging
• Illustrate the value of combining MPI and coronary calcium assessment

The overall goal of this webinar is to address knowledge and competence gaps related to reading and interpreting multimodality PET-CT imaging for cardiac and non-cardiac findings, selecting a model for reading CT attenuation correction scans, requirements for technologists to perform the CT portion of PET-CT, and insights into hybrid imaging coding and billing issues.

Hybrid PET-CT imaging is non-invasive imaging that can be used to diagnose disease, determine its functional and physiological impact, assess prognosis, and guide therapeutic decisions. It provides practitioners with information on disease activity which is not easily obtained by other methods. While the use of hybrid cardiac imaging has a well-established role in the assessment of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, poor imaging tests may yield false-positive and false-negative readings leading to poor treatment decisions and increased morbidity, mortality, and clinical care costs.

Attenuation correction is a mechanism that removes artifacts so corrected CT images are more consistent and can be interpreted with greater diagnostic accuracy. To ensure the best possible images are obtained, CT attenuation correction scans can be used in PET-CT. Proper recognition of artifacts and the understanding the various models of reading CT attenuation correction scans in PET-CT imaging is critical in obtaining precise and accurate images and improving patient outcomes.

PET-CT is a widely used imaging modality in the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac disease. Given its diagnostic accuracy, PET-CT scans frequently identify non-cardiac findings necessitating further workup by the referring physician. For multimodality imagers, using a systematic approach to reading cardiac scans not only improves diagnostic skills, but provides the framework for the imager to examine and recognize key incidental findings.
As the nuclear medicine technology field continues to grow, the need for specialty-certified technologists is also rapidly increasing. Although training and certification needs vary based on facility and state and local licensing mandates, understanding the clinical and other requirements for a technologist to perform the CT portion of PET-CT is important to a successful transformation to hybrid imaging.

Hybrid imaging necessitates specific CPT codes for timely and accurate reimbursement. Understanding and incorporating relevant CPT coding for PET-CT scans helps to mitigate billing issues and delayed or incomplete reimbursement.

Evaluation Deadline: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and Participation Credits = Februrary 22, 2023. 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 Material activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.



Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification Recognition Statement Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.25 medical knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit. To receive 1.25 MOC points for participating in this activity, you must be a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and you must have an ABIM account. If you have not yet established an online account, you will need to visit the ABIM at www.abim.org, or contact ABIM via phone by calling: 1-800-441-ABIM or 215-446-3590. Mon - Fri 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET, Sat 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET.

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 Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. 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 all financial relationships with ineligible companies and mitigation of conflicts of interest. The financial interest or relationships requiring disclosure are outlined in ASNC’s CME Conflict of Interest Policy. All persons who influenced the content of this activity are required to disclose all financial relationships. The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology has reviewed these disclosures and mitigated or managed all identified conflicts of interest through a peer review process.

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:

Michael Steigner, MD
Randall C. Thompson, MD, MASNC
Kelly Fischer (ASNC staff)
Michelle Klinke (ASNC staff)

The following planners, presenters, peer reviewers, staff reported financial relationships:

Andrew Einstein, MD, PhD, MASNC: Research Grant – GE Healthcare; Research Grant – W.L. Gore & Associates; Consultant – W. L. Gore & Associates; Lecturer – Ionetix

Molly Foos, BS, CNMT, NCT, NMTCB(CT): Contracted Research Project (Spectrum Dynamics) – Cardiovascular Imaging Technologies (CVIT) – Kansas City

Release Date: February 22, 2022
Expiration Date: February 22, 2023
After February 22, 2023, a fee will be charged to obtain your certificate.

This activity is a Webinar course that took place on February 7, 2022. On Demand content available to learner's includes PDF presentations, a post-test examination and evaluation.

This activity has no commercial support.

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
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Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Phone: 703-459-2555 | FAX: 301-215-7113 | Email: info@asnc.org