Rotation Objectives
Knowledge:
- Understand the principles of myocardial perfusion and blood flow, factors
determining flow, coronary flow regulation, vasoreactivity, coronary flow
reserve, regional flow differences, and flow variability. - Understand the principles of radioactivity, radioactive decay, radionuclide
production, radionuclide generators, photon interactions with matter, and spectrum
radiating detectors - Have a basic understanding of the instrumentation,
techniques, and principles involved in nuclear imaging, including collimation, resolution, contrast, localization, noise, ECT, SPECT, PET, image reconstitution methods, and attenuation and scatter correction - Know the various methods of stress testing (treadmill, upright and reclining bicycle, (pharmacologic), including indications, exclusions,
safety, and technique - Understand the difference between a direct and indirect test of coronary flow reserve
- Understand the advantages, disadvantages, and differences between various
protocols for image acquisition. - Know the differences between the various radioisotopes used in nuclear cardiology,
including their energy, half lives, and organs of elimination. - Know the value of perfusion imaging in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management
of patients with coronary artery disease.
Skills:
- The trainee should be able to independently interpret the results of a stress or
viability myocardial perfusion study. - The trainee should be able to interpret the results of a blood pool imaging study.
- The trainee should be able to recognize potential attenuation artifacts.
Teaching Methods - Interactive reading sessions with the attending physician.
- Participation in monthly Nuclear Cardiology Tutorial.
- Independent review of on-line teaching material in the Cardiac Imaging Curriculum
Methods of Evaluation:
- Direct interaction with the attending physician during the supervision and
interpretation of nuclear myocardial imaging studies - Review of any additional extracurricular projects, papers or presentations