MCCCD Program Description

Nuclear Cardiology

Course: NUC276

First Term: 2021 Spring

Lec + Lab 3.0 Credit(s) 4.0 Period(s) 4.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: T - Lab Load

Description: Cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it relates to cardiac imaging including cardiac blood flow, electrophysiology, and function. Pharmacologic and exertional stress testing methods used in conjunction with imaging. Cardiac imaging instrumentation, acquisition and processing procedures, artifacts, and quality control.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Differentiate between normal and abnormal cardiac images, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and related test results. (I) 2. Describe the basic components of imaging equipment, acquisition and processing, and of ancillary equipment for cardiology procedures. (II, III) 3. Apply knowledge to simulated nuclear cardiology procedures. (III, IV) 4. Correlate complementary diagnostic imaging and testing for specific nuclear cardiology procedures. (III, IV) 5. Discuss the diagnostic/prognostic value of cardiac system imaging and correlative and comparative testing. (III, IV) 6. Perform a variety of nuclear medicine cardiac scans. (IV, V)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the heart A. Normal anatomy B. Normal physiology C. Anatomic variants and pathology II. Imaging, non-imaging, and ancillary equipment A. Imaging equipment B. Non-imaging equipment C. Ancillary equipment III. Image acquisition and processing A. Planar imaging and processing techniques B. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acquisition and processing techniques C. Gated imaging and processing techniques D. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and processing techniques IV. Myocardial imaging procedures A. Myocardial perfusion imaging B. Viability imaging C. Equilibrium radionuclide angiography D. Myocardial infarct imaging E. Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) V. Cardiac scans A. Stress/rest scans 1. Treadmill 2. Pharmacological B. Myocardial infarction (MI) scans C. Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan D. Other related scans

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 23, 2020

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.