New recommendations can lower radiation exposure for patients undergoing MPI procedures: ASNC

Recommendations could lower radiation exposure in 50% of myocardial perfusion imaging patients by 2014

New recommendations published by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (www.asnc.org) could significantly lower radiation exposure for patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) procedures.  Focused on three areas — patient selection, test selection, and technology adoption — ASNC's information statement summarizes best practices for minimizing radiation exposure without sacrificing quality or clinical benefit to the patient.

The authors of Recommendations for Reducing Radiation Exposure in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ask physicians to consider three important questions when ordering and performing MPI tests:

• Is MPI testing appropriate and necessary in this patient?
• How can the MPI protocol be optimized to give the lowest radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic accuracy?
• How can new technologies be utilized to provide the lowest possible radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic accuracy?

Employing resources and techniques such as appropriate use criteria, stress-only protocols, and iterative reconstruction can significantly contribute to lower radiation doses and higher image quality.  "Radiation exposure reduction is a global priority and is achievable today in daily practice without sacrifice of image quality," says ASNC President Dr. Mylan Cohen.  "ASNC and the professionals we represent must embrace, endorse, and advance methods to reduce radiation exposure related to cardiac imaging."

The authors conclude that if these recommendations are implemented by the nuclear cardiology community, then radiation exposure to patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging tests could be reduced to an average of less than or equal to 9 mSv in 50% of studies by 2014.