Recommendations for reducing radiation exposure in myocardial perfusion imaging.

Radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) for the detection of ischemia in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) has widespread clinical utilization and has been shown to have high accuracy and incremental prognostic value. Amidst the recent publicity regarding the increasing use of all types of ionizing radiation in the United States, patients and medical professionals are scrutinizing the need for diagnostic testing and how radiation exposure can be reduced. There are three critical questions that physicians must consider and answer with regard to radiation exposure and performing MPI in a particular patient: