Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Cardiac PET/CT delivers diagnostic accuracy of 88–91%, compared to roughly 70% for traditional SPECT. As of January 2026, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology issued a Class I recommendation naming PET the preferred test for evaluating coronary artery disease in all patients. That clarity comes from PET/CT's ability to measure myocardial blood flow, image cleanly through high BMI, and detect microvascular disease that SPECT can miss—at a lower radiation dose (2–4 mSv vs. 8–12 mSv). The downstream result is fewer follow-up scans (under 8% for PET/CT versus 15–30% for SPECT) and faster, more confident treatment decisions.

PET/CT is the preferred test any time diagnostic clarity matters, and it offers the clearest advantage for patients with coronary artery disease, undiagnosed chest pain, abnormal EKGs or stress tests, suspected microvascular disease, cardiomyopathy, or a history of stents or bypass surgery. It is also the better choice for patients with a BMI over 30, those undergoing pre-op cardiac risk assessment, and patients who cannot exercise and require pharmacological stress. As Dr. Timothy Bateman, lead author of the 2026 ASNC guidance, put it: there are no clinical scenarios or patient subgroups where cardiac PET should be excluded.

Reimbursement for PET/CT averages $2,769.61 per scan (80% Medicare) compared to $653.02 for SPECT—roughly 4.4 times the revenue per patient. On a standard PET/CT day with 15 patients across 48 imaging days per year, partner practices project $864,000 to $1.09 million in annual net profit. Real-world results track with the model: Dr. Brian Chesnie reports a 75% revenue increase in his first year with VIP, and Dr. Rajesh Chawla doubled his nuclear cardiology revenue in six months.

No. SPECT remains a reliable cardiac imaging modality, reimbursed by every major insurer including Medicare, and it continues to play a role in many practices. What has changed is the starting point. With PET/CT now the preferred test for evaluating coronary artery disease, the smarter strategy is to lead with PET/CT for patients who need the highest accuracy and use SPECT where it still fits clinically and operationally. VIP Imaging supports both modalities, so you can build the workflow that best fits your patient population and your practice goals.