Stress and Strain on the Future of Nuclear Cardiology

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease and cancer are the two major causes of mortality. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause for mortality related to heart disease, while in oncology, prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men of all races [1]. It is important that we detect primary and recurrent cardiac and malignant disease early and thus provide timely treatment to the patients, increasing thereby the chances of their survival. In recent years there has been tremendous growth in the field of cardiovascular imaging both for diagnosis and prognostication. A major methodology for risk stratification that has been in place for many years now is cardiac Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). It is an excellent tool for myocardial perfusion imaging, facilitating timely management decisions regarding revascularization. The test has been validated repeatedly and its efficacy has been proven for quite a long time.