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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NIH awards $5.1M for PET-based method to reduce CVD risk

“With imaging, we’ll be able to identify vulnerable plaque, deliver treatment directly to it, and see whether the treatment is effective," said award recipient Yongjian Liu, PhD, with Washington University in St. Louis.

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NorthStar closes $100M in financing to expand domestic Mo-99 production

The company received $75 million at closing from funds managed by Oberland Capital Management. NorthStar has the option to draw another $25 million before December 31, 2020.

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PET/CT radiotracer benefits clinicians, prostate cancer patients

18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT imaging accurately localized biochemically recurrent prostate cancer and prompted clinicians to change their management plans in more than 80% of patients, according to a recent study in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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DOE land transfer puts company on-track for domestic Mo-99 facility

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently transferred land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to Coquí Radio Pharmaceuticals, pushing the company closer to establishing a domestic production of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), an isotope used in many molecular imaging exams.

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PET brain scans help connect the dots between CTE, tackle football

PET brain scans of living former NFL players with cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms showed higher tau levels than controls in brain regions typically affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to an April 11 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

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68Ga-PSMA-11 PET has positive impact on prostate cancer patients

The PET radiotracer 68Ga-PSMA-11 improved the detection of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, according to results of a prospective trial published in JAMA Oncology.

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ACR, SNMMI create new clinical registry for nuclear medicine

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are collaborating to create a new clinical data registry to support high-quality practice and care in nuclear medicine.

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JAMA: Amyloid PET changed clinical management in 60% of patients with dementia

Amyloid PET imaging greatly influenced the clinical management of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, according to the first phase of a multicenter trial published April 2 in JAMA.

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Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
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.