Abstract
Multiple documents have been published regarding the use of radionuclide imaging which attempt to outline the applications of SPECT and PET cardiac imaging and to offer guidance in not only how these techniques are performed but also when these tests should be used. These guidance documents, which include position papers, consensus documents, white papers, clinical practice guidelines (CPG), and appropriate use criteria (AUC) serve a number of purposes and are applicable to various health care providers. The focus of this chapter is on CPG and AUC, as these provide the basis for care optimization and reimbursement decisions and are the most widely accepted documents regarding radionuclideimaging utilization. Throughout this book, each chapter has focused on the best practice of nuclear cardiology, emphasizing methods that will not only improve image quality but also provide significant clinical value. This chapter will emphasize the selection of patients for radionuclide imaging and focus on how best to use these resources to improve the outcome of patients with known or suspected heart disease.