ASNC Nuclear Cardiology Core Curriculum 2023

The Nuclear Cardiology Core Curriculum is a new program led by 18 experts in the field who will help you expand your nuclear cardiology fundamentals through a series of 8 courses featuring 18 presentations with case-based questions.

videos+Ppts

Learner Objectives

• Define basic principles of SPECT and MUGA acquisition/display including tomographic views and planes.
• Define and understand properties and use of standard perfusion tracers.
• Gain knowledge of principles of stress testing, contraindications, and when to choose exercise versus pharmacologic.
• Understand the basics of pre-test risk and how to incorporate results to get post-test risk.
• Understand the basics of pharmacologic stress agents (mechanism of action, administration, safety).
• Understand the protocols used with perfusion tracers, how it is tailored to imaging need (patient-centered imaging).
• Gain knowledge regarding protocols for assessing myocardial viability.
• Recognize the role of SPECT on ventricular function assessment.
• Identify appropriate imaging studies for indication.
• Integrate perfusion findings to clinical and EKG data.
• Identify a high-risk study.
• Gain knowledge of AUC and its application.

Program Outline

The Nuclear Cardiology Core Curriculum is composed of 8 courses with a total of 18 presentations from leaders in the field:

1. Physics Fundamentals, Basic Radiotracers, Stress Agents, and Radiation Biology

• Knowledge of Basic Physics of SPECT/MUGA Acquisition and Display – Robert Pagnanelli, CNMT, NCT, RT(N)(R), FASNC
• Properties and Use of Standard Radiotracers – Karthikeyan Ananthasubramaniam, MD, FASNC
• Basics of Pharmacologic Stress Agents Mechanism of Action, Administration, and Safety – Gregory S. Thomas, MD, MPH, MASNC
• Radiation Biology Basics – Jason S. Tavel, PhD

2. Pre-test Assessment and Fundamentals of Stress Testing

• Principles of Stress Testing – Donna M. Polk, MD, MPH​, FASNC
• Basics of Pre-test Risk and How to Incorporate Results for Post-test Risk – Prem Soman, MD, PhD​, MASNC
• Stress Lab Emergencies – Saurabh Malhotra, MD, MPH, FASNC

3. Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Review

• Protocols of Assessing Myocardial Viability- Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD
• SPECT Protocols for CAD – W. Lane Duvall, MD, FASNC

4. Interpretation and Reporting of SPECT

• Role of SPECT on Ventricular Function Assessment – Renée Bullock-Palmer, MD, FASNC
• Identify a High Risk SPECT Study – Maria Sciammarella, MD
• Recognizing Artifacts – E. Gordon DePuey, MD​, MASNC
• Systematic Interpretation and Reporting – Robert C. Hendel, MD, MASNC

5. Appropriate Use of Testing

• Patient Centered Imaging: How to Choose the Right Test for the Right Patient – David Wolinsky, MD, MASNC
• Knowledge of AUC and its Application – Rami Doukky, MD, MSc, MBA, FASNC​

6. Risk Stratification

• Integrating Clinical and Stress EKG Findings with Myocardial Perfusion – Diwakar Jain, MD, MASNC

7. Cardiac PET

• Basics of Cardiac PET and Myocardial Blood Flow – Robert deKemp, PhD, FASNC

8. Basics of CT in Nuclear Cardiology

• Basics of Cardiac PET and Myocardial Blood Flow – Randall C. Thompson, MD, MASNC