Four Nuclear Medicine Societies Issue New Guideline for Lung Ventilation–Perfusion Scintigraphy

A joint procedure standard and procedure guideline for ventilation–perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy has been published in the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, issued by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM), and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM). The document, announced from Reston, Virginia, on October 20, 2026, provides a framework for performing and interpreting lung imaging studies, covering ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy, ventilation-only scintigraphy, and perfusion-only scintigraphy. According to the authoring organizations, the guideline is intended to standardize imaging protocols so that consistent, high-quality diagnostic outcomes can be achieved across different clinical settings.

Lung scintigraphy is described in the guideline as a fundamental diagnostic procedure used to evaluate a range of pulmonary pathologies, including—but not limited to—pulmonary embolism. The document incorporates recent technological changes that have reshaped the modality. Among these are the transition from planar imaging to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the co-registration of SPECT images with computed tomography (CT), and the widespread adoption of 99mTc-based ultrafine aerosolized carbon nanoparticles, known commercially as Technegas, for ventilation imaging. The organizations state that these advances have enhanced the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of lung scintigraphy, and the new guideline offers updated, evidence-based recommendations that combine established techniques with these newer capabilities.

Beyond standardization, the authoring societies outline two broader aims for the document. The first is to enhance understanding of the clinical utility of lung scintigraphy beyond pulmonary embolism, promoting comprehensive patient assessment across a range of pulmonary diseases. The second is to facilitate the integration of SPECT and SPECT/CT imaging with newer ventilation agents, with the stated goals of improving diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility, and patient outcomes. To that end, the guideline addresses clinical indications for V/Q imaging; the qualifications and responsibilities of personnel; examination procedures and specifications; and documentation and reporting requirements.

The scope of the document extends past the imaging protocol itself. It also covers equipment specification, quality control and improvement, safety, infection control, patient education concerns, and radiation safety in imaging. A discussion of emerging technologies in lung imaging studies is included as well, reflecting the societies’ intent that the guideline accommodate ongoing technical development in the field. Together, these sections are positioned as a practical reference for nuclear medicine practitioners conducting and interpreting lung imaging in routine practice.

The publication follows the standing practice of the four organizations, which periodically define new standards and guidelines for nuclear medicine practice in order to advance the science of the field and support effective and safe medical care. Each standard or guideline represents a policy statement by the organizations and undergoes a thorough consensus process involving extensive review before publication. The guideline’s authorship spans institutions in Australia, the United States, Canada, and France: Paul J. Roach and Dale L. Bailey of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Geoffrey M. Currie of the School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia; Erin E. Grady and Alexander C.W. Lee of the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Stanford University, California; Linda B. Haramati of the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut; Michel LeBlanc of the Department of Medical Imaging, Centre Hospitalier Affilie Universitaire Regional, Universite de Montreal, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada; Pierre-Yves Le Roux and Pierre-Yves Salaun of the University of Brest, Inserm, UMR 1304, GETBO, Brest, France; Darlene F. Metter of the Department of Radiology, UT Health San Antonio, Texas; and Barry A. Siegel of the Edward Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. The article, titled “SNMMI/EANM/ACNM/ANZSNM Procedure Standard/Procedure Guideline for Ventilation–Perfusion Pulmonary Scintigraphy,” is published as open access under DOI 10.2967/jnmt.126.273453. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal published by SNMMI that covers imaging and instrumentation, radiopharmacy, quality assurance, and radiation safety, and also serves as a continuing education resource for the nuclear medicine community.

Subject of Research: A joint professional society procedure standard and guideline for ventilation–perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy

Article Title: JNMT publishes procedure standard/procedure guideline for ventilation–perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy

Article References: JNMT publishes procedure standard/procedure guideline for ventilation–perfusion pulmonary scintigraphy. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

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Keywords: ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, lung scintigraphy, pulmonary embolism, SPECT, SPECT/CT, Technegas, nuclear medicine, practice guideline, SNMMI, EANM, Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, imaging standardization