Radiation Dose Reduction from Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Due to a tremendous increase in imaging usage in the last decades, in particular of myocardial perfusion imaging with radionuclide tracers, significant concerns have been recently raised on the possible harmful effect of the exposure of patients and health care operators to ionizing radiation. Recent estimates indicate that cardiac imaging procedures account for almost 40 % of the cumulative dose for imaging procedures. Thus, pertinent scientific associations published recommendations directed to limit patients’ exposure. The key points in the dose optimization process, including appropriate patients selection, stress test and study protocol, new processing software and new hardware, are described.