June 23, 2023
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific
and professional organization founded in 1954 to promote the science, technology, and practical
application of nuclear medicine. Its 15,000 members are physicians, technologists, and scientists
specializing in the research and practice of nuclear medicine. In addition to publishing journals,
newsletters, and books, the SNMMI also sponsors international meetings and workshops
designed to increase the competencies of nuclear medicine practitioners and to promote new
advances in the science of nuclear medicine.
The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) is a professional nonprofit
medical association that facilitates communication worldwide between individuals pursuing
clinical and research excellence in nuclear medicine. The EANM was founded in 1985.
Currently, the EANM represents more than 9,000 specialists from 41 different countries within
Europe and serves the interests of a community far beyond these numbers and any geographic
boundaries.
The SNMMI/EANM will periodically define new standards/guidelines for nuclear
medicine practice to help advance the science of nuclear medicine and to improve the quality of
service to patients. Existing standards/guidelines will be reviewed for revision or renewal, as
appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner, if indicated. Starting in February 2014, the
SNMMI guidelines have been referred to as procedure standards. Any practice guideline or
procedure guideline published before that date is now considered an SNMMI procedure
standard.
Each standard/guideline, representing a policy statement by the SNMMI/EANM, has
undergone a thorough consensus process in which it has been subjected to extensive review. The SNMMI/EANM recognizes that the safe and effective use of diagnostic nuclear medicine
imaging requires specific training, skills, and techniques, as described in each document.
The EANM and SNMMI have written and approved these standards/guidelines to
promote the use of nuclear medicine procedures with high quality. These standards/guidelines
are intended to assist practitioners in providing appropriate nuclear medicine care for patients.
They are not inflexible rules or requirements of practice and are not intended, nor should they be
used, to establish a legal standard of care. For these reasons and those set forth below, the
SNMMI/EANM cautions against the use of these standards/guidelines in litigation in which the
clinical decisions of a practitioner are called into question.
The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure or course of
action must be made by medical professionals, taking into account the unique circumstances of
each case. Thus, there is no implication that an approach differing from the standards/guidelines,
standing alone, is below the standard of care. To the contrary, a conscientious practitioner may
responsibly adopt a course of action different from that set forth in the standards/guidelines
when, in the reasonable judgment of the practitioner, such course of action is indicated by the
condition of the patient, limitations of available resources, or advances in knowledge or
technology subsequent to publication of the standards/guidelines.
The practice of medicine involves not only the science but also the art of dealing with the
prevention, diagnosis, alleviation, and treatment of disease. The variety and complexity of
human conditions make it impossible to always reach the most appropriate diagnosis or to
predict with certainty a particular response to treatment. Therefore, it should be recognized that
adherence to these standards/guidelines will not ensure an accurate diagnosis or a successful
outcome. All that should be expected is that the practitioner will follow a reasonable course of action based on current knowledge, available resources, and the needs of the patient to deliver
effective and safe medical care. The sole purpose of these standards/guidelines is to assist
practitioners in achieving this objective.