Clinical Practice Guideline for Brain PET Imaging in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Summary of Recommendations from the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine

This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for nuclear medicine imaging in patients with suspected neurodegenerative diseases. Developed as part of the PAtient-CENtered Clinical Research Coordinating Center (PACEN) project, the guideline was collaboratively developed by the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine (KSNM), the Korean Dementia Association (KDA), the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA), and the Korean Movement Disorder Society (KMDS). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted to address three key clinical questions. First, the adjunctive use of quantitative analysis in addition to visual interpretation is conditionally recommended for [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) (Grade B; moderate certainty of evidence). Second, the combination of quantitative analysis and visual assessment is conditionally recommended for amyloid PET (Grade B; low certainty of evidence). Third, the acquisition of early-phase images during amyloid PET to provide information on cerebral perfusion is conditionally recommended (Grade B; very low certainty of evidence). Although these recommendations are conditional because of the varying levels of available evidence, they support the judicious use of advanced imaging strategies in appropriate clinical contexts. This guideline aims to standardize nuclear medicine imaging practices and support optimal clinical decision-making for neurodegenerative disorders in Korea.