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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ANSTO nuclear med facility halts production after 2 workers exposed to dangerous radiation dose

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO)’s new $168 million nuclear medicine facility halted all production after two employees were exposed to an unsafe dose of radiation on Friday, June 21, according to a statement from the organization.

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Radiopharmaceutical safely monitors rheumatoid arthritis

Intravenous (IV) administration of technetium-99m (99mTc) was shown to be a safe, noninvasive way to observe rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, according to a study presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in Anaheim, Calif.

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Researchers create new method for developing PET radiotracers

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers have developed a new method for creating radiotracers used in PET imaging. The technique may improve imaging of diseases such as cancer, according to the study published in Science.

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Novel PET scan improves diagnosis, monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease

Immuno-PET offers a more efficient diagnosis of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to traditional invasive methods, according to a new study published in the June issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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Automated amyloid PET quantification approach can help ID Alzheimer’s

Using an automated technique to quantify amyloid plaque on PET scans in a patient’s native space can improve the detection of brain amyloid accumulation compared to traditional methods, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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Australia’s $168M nuclear medicine plant begins full production of Mo-99

Until now, the $168 million facility was producing limited amounts of Mo-99, a radioisotope used in approximately 85% of all Australian nuclear medicine procedures such as SPECT scans.

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Radiotracer identifies 28 different forms of cancer

A team of German researchers has found a new class of radiopharmaceuticals capable of identifying 28 types of malignant tumors, imaging them with high uptake and image contrast.

 

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USP publishes new safety standards for radiopharmaceuticals

The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) recently published a new chapter outlining minimum standards for preparing, compounding, dispensing and packaging sterile and non-sterile radiopharmaceuticals that are part of state-licensed activities.

Around the web

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

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.

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.