The Role of Nuclear Cardiology in Cardiologist Clinical Practice and What to Expect From a Nuclear Medicine Physician

Abstract

Cardiovascular disorders remain the leading cause of death in all societies today. The primary cause of this problem among cardiovascular disorders is coronary artery disease (CAD). The identification of CAD requires a clinical evaluation, anamnesis, and basic non-invasive and invasive imaging methods. Today’s current imaging techniques are getting increasingly important due to the advancement of technology. Nuclear cardiology is one of the growing diagnostic improvements in procedures. Diagnosis of CAD, diagnosis and severity of ischemia, prognosis and risk assessment, assessment of left ventricular function, congestive heart failure, hibernation and stunning difference, presence or absence of viability, cardiac amyloidosis, and identification of infected endocarditis, especially in cases with prosthetic valves are among the daily routine applications of nuclear cardiology. Therefore, it is important for Nuclear Medicine specialists to include clear statements and quantitative data in reporting test results that meet the needs of cardiologists. This article will focus on the indications for referring basic cardiovascular diseases to nuclear cardiology and the reporting expectations based on clinical diagnosis. © 2024 Galenos Publishing House. All rights reserved.