Nuclear cardiology is a time-tested imaging technology with an excellent safety profile. It provides quantifiable and cost-effective information for the clinical management of patients with suspected or proven coronary artery disease (CAD).

MPI, which represents >90% of the field, is a firmly established modality. The primary objective of MPI is to provide an accurate and complete image of the blood flow in the heart for diagnosis and treatment of CAD. MPI is used for diagnosing the presence or absence of critical coronary artery stenosis, providing prognostic information on long-term outcomes, and stratifying patient risk for adverse cardiac events.¹ (Cerqueira, Nuclear Cardiology)

MPI provides clinical benefit in the initial evaluation of patients with suspected, but unproven CAD, and in those patients where a diagnosis of CAD has been established and information on prognosis or risk is required.

Today, there are more than 5 million nuclear cardiology procedures performed annually in the United States. A majority of these, 3.5 million, were performed in a hospital setting.2

Pharmacologic stress agents were used in approximately 35% of these procedures as an alternative or adjunct to exercise.1,2 (Cerqueira) (Data on file AMR)

Over 95% of nuclear cardiology studies are performed with two injections, one at stress and a comparative rest injection. Of all studies done, 70% use Tc99m-labeled compounds for both injections, 18% are performed using a Tc99m agent and Tl-201.2 (Data on file, AMR)

References: 1. Cerqueira MD. Nuclear Cardiology. Boston: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1994. 2. Data on file, Arlington Medical Resources, Inc., Malvern, PA.