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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Gamma Medica, Hospital Services Limited to expand into European breast imaging market

Gamma Medica, a molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology company, reached an agreement with Hospital Services Limited (HSL), a medical device company that distributes, installs and services radiology capital equipment and medical devices.

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Mallinckrodt sells nuclear imaging business to IBA Molecular for $690 million

St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt closed the $690 million sale of its nuclear imaging division to IBA Molecular, a national supplier of radiopharmaceutical products.

USC finds the needle in the haystack with molecular imaging

Clinicians may one day be able to snap an iPhone picture of a suspicious mole and use a USC-developed technique to determine it’s cancer risk, according to an article published in Nature Methods.

Molecular oncology imaging can improve outcomes, cut waste

Experts from the University of Pennsylvania advocated for the use of advanced molecular imaging in cancer care, citing its usefulness from diagnosis to treatment in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology.

Intraoperative imaging technology cuts need for repetitive lumpectomy

Lightpoint Medical, developers of medical imaging technologies, has announced results for its clinical trial in regards to intraoperative imaging technology for breast cancer surgery.

PET scans show patients with PTSD have imbalance in brain's signalling systems

Researchers set out to study patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using PET scans. They found that a greater imbalance between two neurochemical systems in the brain—serotonin and substance P—meant individuals were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms.

Imaging technique gets docs closer to treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. have developed a new imaging technique that could help create treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

ASNC, IAC, SNMMI in sync to mandate optimized radiation doses in nuclear cardiology

Organizations are working in sync to put a focus on mandating optimized radiation doses in nuclear cardiology studies performed across the nation and beyond. 

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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.