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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Coqui signs contract with INVAP for Florida isotope facility

Coral Gables, Fla., based Coqui RadioPharmaceuticals is moving forward with designs for a new medical isotope production facility in Alachua, Fla. An agreement to that effect has been signed by INVAP, an Argentine firm specializing in nuclear engineering, Coqui announced Nov. 20.

Lower scan time, dose in SPECT MPI

A new SPECT protocol allows researchers to not only cut scan times down to a quarter of the average time, but it could also be used to lower dose, according to a study published Nov. 20 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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Alzheimer’s: Untangling the Research

First came the discovery of beta-amyloid plaque as a precursor of cognitive decline, and then came the tangles of tau and wonderment in researchers’ minds as to their relationship.

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Cardiac PET/CT: Measuring calcification via low-dose CT

Low-dose CT has become a mainstay for PET attenuation correction, but why not take it a step further by quantifying coronary artery calcium without adding any extra dose, according to an Ottawa Heart Institute study published ahead of print Nov. 20 in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology.

A Victory We Aren’t Celebrating—Yet

During my term as president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (And Molecular Imaging, now appended), we were in the midst of the Molecular Imaging Campaign that was successful in increasing the visibility of nuclear medicine as a measure of physiologic and metabolic parameters in diagnosing our patients.

AAA financials show more than 28% spike in sales

A year-to-date sales report for the radiopharmaceutical company Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) indicates that the company experienced 28.9 percent growth in sales, equaling about $68.7 million in the first nine months of 2014. Net income for the first three quarters of the year was gauged at approximately $1.5 million.

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Capturing minute changes in DNA could aid early detection of breast cancer

Targeting oncogene-driven activation of DNA damage could be an effective way to tap into the earliest stages of cancer development, or tumorigenesis. An investigative molecular imaging agent was able to do just that in a preclinical Oxford University study published ahead of print Nov. 13 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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Lymphoseek gains EU approval for sentinel node mapping in select cancers

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals announced today that technetium-99m tilmanocept (Lymphoseek) has been approved by the European Commission for the detection of sentinel lymph node involvement in primary breast cancer, melanoma and localized squamous cell carcinoma.

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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.