DENVERWhen performing nuclear imaging studies, it is important to balance benefits against potential risks, however, it is most imperative to ensure that only appropriate patients are being imaged, George A. Beller, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, said during a presentation Sept. 10 at the 16th annual American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) scientific session.

DENVERAnatomy or ischemia: Will either one of these add to better outcomes? asked James E. Udelson, MD, chief of the division of cardiology and director of nuclear cardiology laboratory at the Tufts Medical Center in Boston, during a presentation Sept. 9 at this year's American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) scientific sessions.

SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can detect risk of death in women, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging. A study of nearly 2,500 Brazilian women showed that adding SPECT MPI to the care spectrum enhanced prognostic information regarding myocardial perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

A retrospective study showed that CT perfusion and digital subtraction angiography have similar testing characteristics for determining incidences of delayed cerebral ischemia in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study was published in the September issue of Academic Radiology.

Use of a 128-slice dual source CT led to ultrafast imaging of the entire heart and reduced radiation exposure significantly when compared to a shutter-mode dynamic myocardial perfusion protocol with alternating table positions, according to a study published Aug. 23 in Circulation: Heart Failure. Adenosine stress myocardial CT perfusion (CTP) imaging with the 128-slice technology can accurately detect both myocardial ischemia and coronary stenosis.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) may further stratify risk in patients eligible for the JUPITER trial and could be used to identify who will benefit the most, or least, from statin therapy, according to a study published in the Aug. 18 issue of The Lancet.

Just as insurance carriers are scrutinizing the higher cost of a CT scan versus that of an ultrasound for diagnostic screenings, patients are becoming aware of and concerned about the amount of radiation delivered by a CT scan. This is leading to an increased number of ultrasounds being performed in several medical situations, according to the KLAS report, titled Ultrasound 2011-Innovation on the Move."

Positive findings of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) via elective coronary angiography varies widely across centers, 23 percent to 100 percent, according to a study published Aug. 9 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.This variation may pave the way for quality improvement and appropriate use criteria (AUC) for diagnostic coronary angiography.