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. 

folate-based radiopharmaceuticals

Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals could improve detection of gliomas

According to new research, gliomas—a deadly group of brain tumors that are difficult to treat—have increased folate receptor expression, meaning they also show increased uptake of folate-based radiopharmaceuticals on PET imaging.

brain money alzheimer dementia

Will PET imaging be covered alongside new Alzheimer's drugs? CMS dodges topic in new coverage decision

The recent CMS coverage determination did not make any mention of beta-amyloid PET imaging that is necessary for both diagnosing Alzheimer’s and monitoring the effectiveness of related treatments.

Two examples of PSMA-PET scans showing numerous prostate cancer metastases spread throughout the body. Many of these smaller tumors would not have been dected on previous standard-of-care imaging. Photo on left courtesy of SNMMI, right University of Chicago. #PSMAPET

PSMA-PET a more cost-effective option for patients long-term compared to standard prostate imaging

The findings support adopting F-18 DCFPyL PET/CT as the standard of care for prostate cancer staging, authors of a new Scientific Reports paper concluded.

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Radioactive substances unnecessary in new method for measuring brain glucose metabolism

Rather than administering radiolabeled glucose for exams, imagers give patients a small amount of a harmless glucose solution that is said to be equivalent to a can of a carbonated drink.

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Accessibility, reimbursement and other issues limit uptake of PET/CT among oncologists, survey reveals

Difficulty obtaining PET/CT scans was reported by 55% of respondents, with 21% citing this as the greatest barrier in treating classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

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Experts release new appropriate use criteria for lymphoscintigraphy in sentinel node mapping

The AUC includes a total of 32 clinical scenarios that have been grouped into four categories of cancer: breast, skin, cancer of other sites and lymphedema.

nuc med treatment for non-hodgkin lymphoma

New nuclear medicine treatment could potentially cure non-Hodgkin lymphoma

“If testing is successful in humans, this would represent an excellent new treatment option for patients with this disease.” 

PET/MRI of FAPI radiotracer uptake in Crohn's disease

New imaging technique could change how Crohn's disease is treated

The FAPI radiotracer experts used in this research can bind specifically to the connective tissue cells that cause intestinal wall fibrosis common to Crohn's disease.

Around the web

GE HealthCare's flurpiridaz, the PET radiotracer that recently received FDA approval, offers several key benefits over SPECT. Jamshid Maddahi, MD, discussed the details in an exclusive interview. 

Ultrafast MCE could go on to become a go-to treatment option for obstructive coronary artery disease, according to the authors of a new first-in-human clinical study.

Elucid's PlaqueIQ was trained to turn CCTA images into interactive 3D reports that help physicians visualize the presence of atherosclerosis.

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