Expert consensus: first multidisciplinary consensus on nuclear cardiology

Mónica Vidal, Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Universidad de Barcelona, Medellín, Colombia
Catalina Gallego, Departamento de Medicina Interna y Cardiología Clínica, Clínica Somer Incare, Rionegro, Colombia
Gustavo Roncancio, Departamento de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Clínica CardioVid Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
Emperatriz Angarita, Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Instituto Cardiovascular del HIC, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia
Rodrigo Cárdenas, Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Clínica Imbanaco- Clínica de Occidente, Cali, Colombia
Karen Dueñas, Departamento de Medicina Interna y Cardiología, Fundación CardioInfantil-LaCardio, Bogotá, Colombia
Juan C. García, Departamento de Cardiología, Clínica Iberoamérica-Radiólogos Asociados, Barranquilla, Colombia
Gina González, Coordinación, Clínica de Falla Cardiaca, Universidad de Los Andes-Hospital Universitario, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
Ulises Granados, Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Internacional de Colombia-Fundación Cardiovascular, Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia
Juan L. Londoño, Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital San Vicente de Paúl y Clínica Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
Juan D. López-Ponce de León, Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Cali; Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali; Colombia
Nilson López, Unidad de Cardiología, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia
Víctor Marín, Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá, Colombia
Érika Martínez, Departamento de Medicina Interna y Cardiología, Clínica Iberoamérica, Barranquilla, Colombia
Ramón Murgueitio, Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Arturo Mejía, Departamento de Medicina Interna y Medicina Nuclear, Clínica Imbanaco, Cali, Colombia
María J. Rodríguez, Departamento de Cardióloga, Falla Cardiaca y Trasplante, LaCardio, Bogotá, Colombia
Edwin Silva, Departamento de Infectología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Luis G. Uribe, Servicio de Infectología, Instituto Cardiovascular-Hospital Internacional de Colombia, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Background: Nuclear cardiology integrates nuclear medicine and cardiology to improve the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiovascular diseases. The continuous development of these techniques and their increasing clinical use require standardized, evidence-based protocols to optimize their application. Therefore, developing consensus documents is essential to ensure appropriate use of imaging for patient benefit. Objective: To develop consensus recommendations for the use of nuclear imaging in cardiovascular infections, coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction, amyloidosis, and sarcoidosis by addressing unresolved questions in clinical practice among general practitioners and specialists, promoting updated and safe application in prevalent national pathologies. Method: A multidisciplinary panel of 19 experts in cardiology, nuclear medicine, and infectious diseases answered 18 clinical questions based on an initial literature review and applying the Nominal Group Technique in a nine-phase process. Results: The consensus generated 18 recommendations on specific indications for nuclear cardiology studies and key elements for report standardization, improving clinical interpretation, assessing the impact of pharmacological therapies and surgical procedures, and evaluating prognostic value and integration with other imaging techniques. Conclusions: The consensus provides practical, evidence-based guidance to standardize and optimize nuclear cardiology use in common cardiovascular diseases, promoting rational, effective, and economically viable application of these advanced diagnostic techniques. It strengthens clinical decision-making, therapeutic planning, and interdisciplinary coordination in comprehensive cardiovascular patient management in Colombia.

Keywords: Nuclear cardiology. Myocardial perfusion imaging Positron emission tomography. Risk stratification.