Cardiology Conference-CVC 2026

Nuclear cardiology is a distinct branch of cardiology that uses nuclear tracers and advanced imaging technology to assess heart function, blood flow and tissue viability. Nuclear cardiology is an important tool in the evaluation and diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemia, myocardial infarction and heart failure.

Nuclear cardiology utilizes many techniques, including:

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI): uses SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) or PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to assess blood flow to the heart muscle both at rest and when stressed.

Cardiac viability studies: Determines the viability of areas of the myocardium that may recover function after revascularization.

Quantitative cardiac function assessment: Determines ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and wall motion abnormalities.

In clinical practice, nuclear cardiology can be utilized to:

Detect reversible ischemia and infarction.

Risk stratification in patients with suspected or established CAD.

Guide treatment decisions, including angioplasty, stenting, or bypass surgery.

Assess treatment response over time, including cardiac function.

The advantages of nuclear cardiology include its high sensitivity, ability to assess both perfusion and function simultaneously, and particularly the non-invasive nature of the tests. If SPECT is compared to PET, the PET directly assesses higher blood flow resolution and, particularly, has quantification capabilities which can improve diagnostic performance.

With continued developments in tracers, imaging and hybrid imaging including CT, nuclear cardiology remains a valuable tool in modern cardiology. Nuclear cardiology, when utilized optimally, can facilitate early identification of severe disease or ameliorate the reliance on further invasive coronary angiography.