Reston, VA (September 18, 2025)--The Society of Nuclear
Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
(ASNC), European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), and American College
of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) have issued a new clinical guideline for 18F-flurpiridaz PET
myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and blood flow quantitation. The
guideline, co-published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine and the Journal
of Nuclear Cardiology, is intended to assist nuclear cardiology practitioners in the
optimal application of 18F-flurpiridaz PET for MPI, including
recommendations for patient selection, imaging protocols, and interpretation of
results.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide
and is responsible for the hospitalization, functional decline, and reduced quality
of life for millions of patients each year. Early and accurate diagnosis and
risk stratification of CAD are essential for guiding treatment and improving
patient outcomes. MPI is a cornerstone of non-invasive assessment of myocardial
ischemia.
MPI can be performed with SPECT or PET. 18F-flurpiridaz is a
novel PET radiotracer that has demonstrated favorable imaging and physiological
properties compared to conventional SPECT agents. Clinical studies have shown
that it provides superior image quality, improved diagnostic accuracy, and
greater sensitivity in detecting clinically significant coronary artery
stenosis compared with conventional SPECT agents. It is particularly valuable
in patients for whom SPECT may be less effective, such as those with obesity or
small left ventricles.
"Multiple phase II and two phase III clinical trials have further
established the utility of 18F-flurpiridaz as a valuable PET
radiotracer for the non-invasive evaluation of CAD," noted René R. Sevag Packard,
MD, PhD. "Owing to its favorable molecular imaging characteristics and extended
half-life, 18F-flurpiridaz is poised to become a valuable agent for
cardiac stress PET imaging, offering clinicians a robust tool for the
evaluation of CAD."
The guideline includes information on clinical indications,
contraindications, and considerations for 18F-flurpiridaz PET. It addresses
qualifications and responsibilities of personnel performing cardiac stress
testing using 18F-flurpiridaz, protocol (and potential protocol
modifications), biodistribution and dosimetry, and the 18F-flurpiridaz
PET workflow. Technologist considerations are also
included.
"This document is designed to promote high-quality, safe, and effective
nuclear medicine practice in the evaluation of CAD," emphasized the authors. "Our
hope is that the guideline enhances clinical decision-making, standardizes
clinical practice, improves diagnostic accuracy, and optimizes resource
utilization to ensure safety and improve patient outcomes."
SNMMI,
ASNC, EANM, and ACNM periodically define new procedure standards/practice guidelines
for nuclear medicine practice to help advance the science of nuclear medicine
and to deliver effective and safe medical care to patients. Each
standard/guideline, representing a policy statement by these groups, undergoes
a thorough consensus process in which it is subjected to extensive review.
The authors of "SNMMI/EANM/ASNC/ACNM Procedure Standard/Practice Guideline for 18F-Flurpiridaz PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and Blood Flow Quantitation" include René R. Sevag
Packard, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine; Department of
Physiology; California NanoSystems Institute; and
David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Jamshid Maddahi, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine;
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology; and David Geffen School of
Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau,
Department of Medical Imaging, Montreal Heart Institute, University of
Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart
& Vascular Center, Houston, Texas; Marta Coelho, Department of Nuclear
Medicine, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen and University
of Duisburg--Essen, Essen, Germany; Sharmila Dorbala, Division of Nuclear
Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology; Cardiovascular Imaging
Program, Departments of Medicine and Radiology; and Brigham and Women's Hospital,
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; James Galt, Division of Nuclear
Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences,
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Mark Hyun, Department of
Imaging and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Nandakumar
Menon, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; Edward J. Miller, Section of Cardiovascular
Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New
Haven, Connecticut; Mrinali Shetty, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine,
Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine,
Louisville, Kentucky; and Antti Saraste, Heart Center and PET Centre,
University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
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About JNM and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular
Imaging
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is the world's leading nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and theranostics journal; it can be found online at http://jnm.snmjournals.org. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an
international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing
nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics--precision medicine that
allows diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. For more
information, visit snmmi.org.
About the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology is the
international home for nuclear cardiology and the largest professional society
devoted exclusively to the field. ASNC's membership includes more than
5,700 nuclear cardiology professionals from around the world. Founded in
1993, ASNC's mission is to improve cardiovascular outcomes through
image-guided patient management. ASNC establishes standards for
excellence in cardiovascular imaging through the development of clinical
guidelines, professional medical education, advocacy, and research. ASNC's
official publication is the Journal
of Nuclear Cardiology. Learn more at http://www.asnc.org.