Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also called nuclear medicine or nuclear imaging) can image the function of cells inside the body at the molecular level. This includes the imaging modalities of positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. How does PET and SPECT imaging work? Small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) injected into a patient. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT.  But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders. 

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Peptide receptor chemo-radionuclide therapy trips up more NETs

Chemo and radionuclide therapy together with the addition of drugs that make patients more radiosensitive have been shown to diminish and even suppress neuroendeocrine tumors (NETs) from progressing in 70 percent of cases. As a result, peptide receptor chemo-radionuclide therapy may offer patients improved survival rates, according to a study presented at the recent Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2014 Annual Meeting held June 7-11 in St. Louis.

SPECT/CT spots source of low back pain

Back pain is a burden for most people at some point in their lifetime, but pinpointing the reason for the pain can be tricky. Researchers presenting during the recent Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2014 Annual Meeting in St. Louis have found that SPECT/CT in addition to conventional bone scan gets straight to the point of pain, leading to much higher pain relief following intervention.

ASTRO and AAPM announce RO-ILS: Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS)

Together, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) will share details about RO-ILS: Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System, a new, national patient safety initiative to facilitate safer and higher quality radiation oncology care.

Personalized care from disease detection through treatment assessment enabled with GE Healthcare’s Discovery IQ

During the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, GE Healthcare introduced its Discovery IQ PET/CT system, enabling both outstanding image quality and intelligent quantitation, helping physicians deliver the best possible patient outcomes.

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Lymphoseek: Newly approved for oral cavity cancer, more expansion expected

Lymphoseek, otherwise known as technetium Tc-99m tilmanocept, is now available for use in sentinel lymph-node mapping of patients with cases of head and neck cancer. Producer Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, based in Dublin, Ohio, held a teleconference for stakeholders yesterday to discuss the expanded approval.

NorthStar Medical teams with Triad for domestic supply of moly

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, based in Madison, Wis., announced a non-exclusive letter of intent yesterday with major radiopharmacy chain Triad Isotopes in an effort to provide a U.S. source of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which decays to produce technetium-99m (Tc-99m), used in the lion's share of nuclear medicine procedures.

FDA approves Lymphoseek to help determine the extent of head and neck cancer in the body

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new use for Lymphoseek (technetium 99m tilmanocept) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent used to help doctors determine the extent a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma has spread in the body’s head and neck region.

GE Healthcare Launches Interactive Patient Profiler for AdreView (Iobenguane I 123 Injection)

The Interactive Patient Profiler for AdreView is a simulation tool designed to help educate physicians on the use of AdreView (Iobenguane I 123 Injection) to assess mortality risk in patients with heart failure. The tool demonstrates the types of patients where the use of AdreView can provide further information to assist physicians in identifying patients who may have a lower one- and two-year mortality risk, among groups of patients with similar profiles based on other clinical information.

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Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.