Optimal Resources for Radioactive Tracer Studies of the Heart and Circulation

SUMMARY

This report suggests guidelines for the physical and human resources required for providing optimal services for radioactive tracer studies of the heart and circulation. Included are recommendations for manpower, space, equipment, and radiopharmaceuticals. Qualifications for professional and technical staff, methods of quality control, and procedures for ensuring the safety of patients and staff are also described. It is recognized that resources considered optimal for a tertiary referral center with active research programs will differ considerably from appropriate resources in other settings such as teaching or community-based hospitals without active research programs in basic and developmental aspects of nuclear cardiology. Radionuclide techniques relevant to the practice of nuclear cardiology are described in detail. These include first-transit radionuclide angiocardiography, equilibrium (gated) radionuclide angiocardiography, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, and infarct avid myocardial scintigraphy. Lung perfusion and ventilation studies are not considered since they are usually performed in a conventional nuclear medicine facility. These guidelines have been prepared for persons who either provide or use such resources in caring for patients.