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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Lantheus reports significant third quarter growth

Lantheus Medical Imaging, based in Billerica, Mass., announced the radiopharmaceutical company’s third quarter financials yesterday, revealing an 8 percent increase over the same quarter in 2013.

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New 2015 HOPPS ruling cuts into PET payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules for the 2015 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The rules were recorded in the Federal Register Nov. 10 and go into effect Jan. 1, 2015. It appears that changes to HOPPS will depress PET payments by 1.9 percent.

New blood test for Alzheimer's disease

Yet another blood test for Alzheimer's disease is being developed--this time by a group of Japanese researchers. The technique could, if approved, be used to screen patients who show no signs of neurodegeneration. 

Up to 20% of FDG PET/CT scans are misread, say most referring docs

More than half of surveyed referring physicians said that F-18 FDG PET/CT scans were being clinically misinterpreted in somewhere between 5 percent and 20 percent of cases, according to a study published Nov. 7 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

NeuroPhage names Franz Hefti new president

The Cambridge, Mass.-based pharmaceutical development company NeuroPhage, which specializes in novel drugs for neurodegenerative disease announced last week that Franz Hefti, PhD, would take the lead as president and chief operating officer.

Alzheimer's therapy enters phase IIa clinical trial

New York City-based Anavex Life Sciences has developed an investigational treatment for Alzheimer's called Anavex 2-73, and announced Nov. 7 that the company would be working with Neuronetrix to take the drug through a phase IIa clinical trial.

Preclinical cancer therapy leads to shrinking neuroblastoma

A cell protein known as MYCN (v-myc avian myelocytomatosis oncogene), one of a group of proteins that spur cellular proliferation, is known to be very resistant to even targeted drug treatments, but preclinical research is turning this protein on itself to fight off new neuroblastoma cancer growth, the Dana Farber Cancer Center and Boston Children’s Hospital announced today.

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Molecule could identify and aid treatment of aggressive breast cancers

A molecule has been found that could be leveraged to treat the most dangerous cancers of the breast, known as triple negative breast cancer, according to a Nov. 3 announcement from the City College of New York (CCNY).

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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.