In a Heartbeat: Episode 9

This episode of JNC CardioConnect explores whether myocardial flow reserve measured by CZT SPECT can match PET's prognostic value — a key question given how limited PET access is worldwide. Dr. Marcelo Di Carli , Editor-in-Chief of the JNC, speaks with authors Maria Victoria Carvelli, MD and Alejandro Meretta, MD along with Terrence Ruddy, MD, MASNC, about the findings and the practical future where SPECT quantification of myocardial blood flow could help us mitigate the limited access to PET throughout the world. Read the JNC article

This episode of JNC CardioConnect explores a new JNC study showing that ¹²⁴I-evuzamitide PET/CT can detect cardiac involvement in rare amyloidosis subtypes that conventional imaging often misses. Editor-in-Chief, Marcelo Di Carli, MD, MASNC speaks with authors Olivier Clerc, MD, MPH and Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH, MASNC about the findings, the limitations of today's bone-tracer-based diagnostic approach, and what Bayer's recently announced positive Phase 3 REVEAL results could mean for a future pan-amyloid diagnostic strategy.

In this special episode of JNC CardioConnect, Editor-in-Chief, Marcelo Di Carli, MD, MASNC is joined by Omar F. Abou Ezzeddine, MD, MS, Prem Soman, MD, PhD, MASNC, Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH, MASNC and Ahmad Masri, MD, MS to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of cardiac amyloidosis — from the biology that explains what we see on imaging, to best practices in cardiac amyloid radionuclide scintigraphy, the promise of amyloid-targeted PET tracers, and the emerging novel therapies. A rich and forward-looking conversation that covers both where the field stands today and where it's headed. Access the full compendium available open access on the JNC website.

Women with heart disease have long been underserved by the very tools designed to diagnose them, but that may be changing. In this episode, Editor-in-Chief, Marcelo Di Carli, MD, MASNC is joined by Stephen Horgan, MB, BCh PhD, FASNC, Jamshid Maddahi, MD, MASNC, and Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD, MASNC and break down a landmark sub-study from the Aurora trial showing that F-18 flurpiridaz PET significantly outperforms traditional SPECT imaging in detecting obstructive coronary artery disease in women, with higher accuracy, better image quality, and nearly half the radiation dose. The conversation goes further, exploring how quantifying actual blood flow with PET could unlock diagnoses that have eluded clinicians for years, particularly for the many women whose symptoms stem not from blocked arteries, but from microvascular disease. Read the article.

In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, MASNC leads a timely conversation on the future of cardiovascular imaging training with Ron Blankstein, MD, and Lawrence Phillips, MD, MASNC. The conversation unpacks the new ACC-sponsored advanced imaging training statement and why multimodality competency is essential for nuclear cardiologists seeking to remain clinically relevant in a world of disease-centered imaging. 

What if SPECT could bring the promise of myocardial blood flow quantification to every lab on earth? In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo Di Carli, MD, MASNC sits down with Yufan Gu, MD and Lei Wang, MD from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, China, and ASNC President Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD, MASNC to discuss a novel perfusion radiotracer- 4-BOH- poised to transform SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging. The team traces the journey from teboroxime to 4-BOH, explaining how advances in tracer chemistry and CZT detector technology could make quantitative flow imaging with SPECT accurate, affordable, and globally accessible. You can read the article here: Preclinical and first-in-human studies of a novel tracer for single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial blood flow quantification

What’s the real value of a perfect image if no one understands it? In this episode of JNC CardioConnect, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo Di Carli, MD, MASNC sits down with Krishna K. Patel, MD, MS, FASNC and John A. Spertus, MD to discuss their manuscript Patient-centered reporting: Should this become the new standard? and to explore how patient-centered reporting can transform diagnostic imaging from data-heavy reports into meaningful, actionable insights that empower both clinicians and patients.

JNC CardioConnect has expanded to include a new episode format that homes in on the most important pearls from each new research article in the latest Journal of Nuclear Cardiology issue.  In a Heartbeat episodes feature JNC Early Career Editorial Board members and JNC associate editors joining Editor-in-Chief Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, MASNC, for focused roundtable-style conversation that unpacks the latest science and implications for clinical practice or future investigations. Ideal for busy cardiac imagers, In a Heartbeat episodes keep you current on the questions shaping the future of nuclear cardiology.   In this inaugural editor’s roundtable discussion, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, MASNC, is joined by early career editorial board members to summarize the August articles: Daniel M. Huck, MD, MPH, commenting on: The prevalence and prognostic impact of additive abnormal stress exercise markers in patients with normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging, by Steven C. Scherping, III, MD, and colleagues. Cesia Gallegos-Kattán, MD, MHS, FASNC, commenting on: Diagnostic performance of 18F-flurpiridaz PET myocardial perfusion imaging with total perfusion deficit quantification, by Jennifer M. Renaud, MSc, and colleagues. Olivier F. Clerc, MD, MPH, commenting on: Technical evaluation of immediate back-to-back rest-stress positron emission tomography scanning with 18F-flurpiridaz, by Dan J. Kadrmas, PhD, and colleagues. Bruno Bezerra Lima, MD, PhD, commenting on: Serial 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to assess the efficacy of infliximab in steroid refractory cardiac sarcoidosis, by Louise E. Crowley, MRCP, PhD, and colleagues. Attila Feher, MD, PhD, commenting on: 82Rb positron emission tomography myocardial blood flow quantification: Influence of arterial input curve quality on diagnostic accuracy, by Hidesato Fujito, MD, PhD, and colleagues.

In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, MASNC, is joined by Steven C. Scherping, III, MD, and ASNC President-elect Jamieson M. Bourque, MD, MHS, FASNC, from the University of Virginia to discuss their manuscript 'The prevalence and prognostic impact of additive abnormal stress exercise markers in patients with normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging.' Also joining the conversation is Diana M. López, MD from the Brigham & Women’s Hospital who wrote an accompanying editorial. Think a normal exercise SPECT MPI means you're in the clear? Think again. In this episode, we dive into new evidence showing that exercise-related clues can reveal risk that perfusion imaging alone might miss. This conversation unpacks what these markers mean—and why they matter. You’ll never look at a “negative” test the same way again.

In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, MASNC, is joined by Waseem Hijazi, MD and Robert JH Miller, MD, FASNC from the University of Calgary to discuss their manuscript 'Association of medical therapies with survival according to SPECT MPI findings'. The study shows that integrating coronary artery calcium scoring with SPECT MPI improves risk stratification and guides more effective medical therapy in patients with suspected CAD. Their findings suggest that hybrid imaging can meaningfully influence clinical outcomes by identifying patients most likely to benefit from statins and ACE/ARB therapy. The discussion highlights a shift toward using nuclear cardiology not just for diagnosis, but to personalize and optimize care.