The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) has issued a landmark position statement affirming that Cardiac PET with myocardial blood flow quantification, when available, should be the preferred test to evaluate patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who meet criteria for myocardial perfusion imaging. This recommendation, published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, reflects a growing clinical consensus that PET’s combination of high diagnostic accuracy, reproducible physiological measurements, and superior image quality offers clear advantages over older modalities for comprehensive CAD assessment. Importantly, ASNC’s guidance underscores that there are no current clinical scenarios or patient subgroups for which PET with myocardial blood flow should be excluded, spotlighting its broad applicability for patient evaluation.
In the statement, ASNC highlights the clinical strengths of cardiac PET MPI with myocardial blood flow, including robust risk stratification, rapid acquisition protocols, and low radiation exposure, features that collectively enhance the clinician’s ability to identify and characterize coronary disease, including microvascular dysfunction that often eludes other imaging tests. By recommending PET as the modality of choice where available, the society aims to improve diagnostic clarity, streamline interpretation, and support more informed clinical decision-making across diverse patient populations. Coupled with evolving guidelines and practice points that help standardize performance and reporting, this position signals a pivotal shift in how myocardial perfusion imaging may be incorporated into routine cardiovascular care.
ASNC also notes that this expanded endorsement can help address prior authorization barriers that have historically slowed PET adoption, especially when paired with its PET Model Coverage Policy, a resource intended to reduce delays and denials tied to insurer requirements.
From CDL Nuclear Technologies’ perspective, this represents a pivotal moment for practices to reassess their imaging pathways and evaluate how Cardiac PET can be implemented to strengthen clinical capacity and elevate patient care. As the only full-service cardiac PET partner offering premium, customizable, and scalable solutions, CDL supports hospitals, health systems, and practices at every stage of adoption. Our model is designed to make Cardiac PET easier to implement while delivering operational simplicity, clinical excellence, and consistency as programs grow, enabling broader access to advanced cardiac imaging that aligns with this evolving clinical standard.