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The regulatory background of nuclear cardiology in Europe: a survey by the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology

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Abstract

Purpose

Nuclear cardiology is a well-validated, non-invasive imaging modality that is highly cost-effective as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the evaluation of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. However, the number of procedures in Europe is very far from that which would be expected on the basis of epidemiological data, particularly when comparison is made with the USA. As a preliminary step for future action aimed at improving and increasing nuclear cardiology practice in Europe, the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology performed a survey to identify the regulatory issues and the training components pertaining to the practice of nuclear cardiology.

Methods

a questionnaire was sent to 31 national nuclear medicine societies and to 40 national cardiology societies. The main areas covered by the survey were: (1) the license requirements, (2) the theoretical and practical aspects of training and (3) supervision of the stress test during a nuclear cardiology study.

Results

The results show that, in a setting of wide heterogeneity of national regulations, education and professional practice, nuclear medicine is a restricted and closely regulated specialty. This situation guarantees the quality and safe use of radionuclides; at the same time, however, it limits integration of nuclear medicine into the clinical arena.

Conclusion

Cardiologists should become more involved in nuclear cardiology, to further stimulate the use of this powerful diagnostic and prognostic imaging modality.

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank Susanna Wiener, PhD, for her invaluable assistance in all phases of this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, S. Maugeri Fnd, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Veruno, V. Revislate 13, 28010, Veruno, Italy

    C. Marcassa

  2. Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

    A. Bischof Delaloye

  3. Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, University of Naples—Federico II, Naples, Italy

    A. Cuocolo

  4. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    B. Hesse

  5. Swiss National Science Foundation, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    P. Kaufmann

  6. PET Center, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland

    J. Knuuti

  7. Nuclear Medicine Department, Bichat Hospital, Paris, France

    D. Le Guludec

  8. Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    H. Sochor

  9. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK

    R. Underwood

  10. Cardiology Department, Athens Navy Hospital, Athens, Greece

    I. Vassiliadis

  11. Russel H Morgan Dept of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    F. Bengel

  12. Cardiology Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. Bax

Authors
  1. C. Marcassa
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  2. A. Bischof Delaloye
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  3. A. Cuocolo
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  4. B. Hesse
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  5. P. Kaufmann
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  6. J. Knuuti
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  7. D. Le Guludec
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  8. H. Sochor
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  9. R. Underwood
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  10. I. Vassiliadis
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  11. F. Bengel
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  12. J. Bax
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Marcassa.

Additional information

On behalf of the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology

Appendix: survey structure

Appendix: survey structure

  1. 1.

    Is nuclear medicine a specialty by itself?

  2. 2.
    1. a)

      What is the training to become a nuclear medicine specialist?

    2. b)

      Is there specific training for nuclear cardiology?

  3. 3.

    Who is allowed to practice nuclear medicine?

  4. 4.
    1. a)

      Is a licence required to order and/or to inject radiopharmaceuticals?

    2. b)

      Do specialists other than NM specialists have the possibility:

      to obtain a full licence?

      to obtain a restricted licence?

      to engage in restricted practice?

  5. 5.

    Is it possible to acquire the specialty of nuclear medicine as a second specialty?

  6. 6.

    Is a physician required to be present at the performance of a stress test?

  7. 7.

    Are nuclear medicine specialists allowed to perform stress tests on patients?

    If yes, is specific training required?

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Marcassa, C., Bischof Delaloye, A., Cuocolo, A. et al. The regulatory background of nuclear cardiology in Europe: a survey by the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 33, 1508–1512 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0211-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0211-6

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