Cardiac PET Curriculum for Technologists

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Pricing

Technologist Member......................$249
Technologist Nonmember...............$349​

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Credits

Technologists can earn up to 42 CE credits from seven topically organized units. Each unit is comprised of didactic lectures, examination questions, and resource materials with each carrying its own credit.

Take all seven modules for the maximum credits or as many as you need. 

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Learner Objectives

After participating in the Cardiac PET Curriculum for Technologists, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of cardiac PET tracer delivery systems.
• Discuss quality measures for PET instrumentation and accurate image acquisition and processing.
• Apply regulatory requirements to establish and safely run a PET facility.

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Course Content

Unit 01: Cardiac PET: The Fundamentals, Part 1 (9.5 CEs)

• Identify current and emerging PET tracers, imaging protocols, and tracer quality control.
• Outline the stepwise approach to image interpretation and detection in addition to troubleshooting artifacts.
• Explain the differences between net retention and single tissue MBF software programs and how to acquire myocardial blood flow data and quality control procedures associated with each.
• List practical considerations for setting up a PET lab.

Unit 02: Cardiac PET: The Fundamentals, Part 2 (4.5 CEs)

• Differentiate the clinical value of cardiac PET versus SPECT imaging.
• Describe the various hardware and software options for PET imaging and their strengths and limitations, and the procedures necessary to ensure PET studies are acquired appropriately for clinical PET studies.
• Explain the various PET imaging protocols and patient preparation critical to performing appropriate PET studies.

Unit 03: Cardiac PET: Opportunities for Dose Reduction (6.25 CEs)

• Demonstrate understanding of Appropriate Use Criteria with respect to cardiac PET applications.
• Recognize and apply patient protocols to reduce dose.
• Identify instrumentation options and modifications to optimize imaging and decrease radiation exposure.

Unit 04: Cardiac PET: Radiation Chemistry and Radiopharmaceuticals (5 CEs)

• Explain nuclear medicine generators and radiopharmaceutical kit preparation and mandated key quality control measures.
• Define what constitutes a radiotracer and a perfusion radiotracer.
• Describe the physics, biology and physiology of cardiac PET flow tracers.

Unit 05: Cardiac PET: Diagnostic Procedures (5.75 CEs)

• Describe requirements for patient preparation and camera setup based on cardiac PET protocol used.
• Demonstrate understanding of image acquisition and processing as determined by cardiac PET tracer selection.
• Describe how to acquire and process a cardiac PET perfusion study with MBF information.

Unit 06: Cardiac PET Instrumentation and Quality Control (4 CEs)

• Demonstrate understanding of the physics and instrumentation principles of quality cardiac PET imaging acquisition and protocoling.
• Apply knowledge to mitigate cardiac PET imaging artifacts.

Unit 07: Cardiac PET: Regulatory Review and Radiation Protection (7 CEs)

• Identify the principles of radiation protection and be able to translate into everyday lab safety for the general public, occupational worker, and patient.
• Describe 10 CFR and NUREG requirements for cardiac PET lab personnel and licensee requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of where to find sources of information, both regulatory and within the providing institutions.
• Describe the basic science of ionizing radiation and nuclear decay and energy, activity administered, dose exposures.