3D iterative reconstruction can do so much more than reduce dose

Recent advances in software and hardware for cardiac SPECT have the potential to revolutionize nuclear cardiology. It is easy to use these technologies to maintain the status quo and lower radiation dose, despite the fact there is very little evidence that lowering patient dose in already low dose imaging protocols confers any benefit to patients. Cardiac SPECT has tremendous potential for risk stratification, molecular tracers, and high temporal resolution management of patients with electrophysiological disorders. In addition, these new reconstruction techniques can offer spatial resolution that is comparable and sometimes even superior to PET. Lastly, recent research has also held out the potential for performing absolute blood flow qualification using SPECT instrumentation. As these new technologies become available, the goal should be to make images better and improve patient care first, then optimize the dose.