Barriers and Opportunities to PET Imaging-Barriers and Opportunities to PET Imaging

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this webinar, cardiologists discuss the current landscape and challenges of adopting PET imaging in nuclear cardiology, highlighting factors such as high costs, lack of trained physician champions, and limited access to technology. Sharmila Durbala and her colleagues address the transition from SPECT to PET, noting the advantages of PET, particularly for certain patient conditions like pharmacologic stress and exercise imaging. The team acknowledges that the broader use of PET is hampered by the availability and expense associated with certain radiotracers.<br /><br />They emphasize the importance of technologist training, patient cooperation, and proper image registration to ensure quality PET imaging. Additionally, the panel considers the potential of the new radiotracer floperidaz to improve accessibility due to its longer half-life and capability for unit dosing, which facilitates its transport and use in institutions without the infrastructure for other tracers.<br /><br />Finally, they discuss the interpretation of PET results in the context of microvascular disease and ischemia, stressing PET's superiority in identifying conditions with more accuracy and providing valuable blood flow reserve data, which aids in management decisions. The session concludes with positive anticipation for PET's future due to advancements like floperidaz, which may democratize access and enhance cardiac care globally.

Keywords

PET imaging

nuclear cardiology

radiotracers

microvascular disease

floperidaz

technologist training

cardiac care