Current status of nuclear cardiology in Japan: Ongoing efforts to improve clinical standards and to establish evidence

Nuclear cardiology imaging tests are widely performed in Japan as clinical practice. The Japanese nuclear cardiology community has developed new diagnostic imaging tests using 123I-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid, 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET for detecting cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis. These tests have become popular worldwide. The Japanese Circulation Society and the Japanese Society of Nuclear Cardiology have published clinical imaging guidelines showing indications and standards for the new imaging tests. JSNC is currently striving to improve the standard of clinical practice and is promoting research activities.