Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine (also called molecular imaging) includes positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Nuclear imaging is achieved by injecting small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) into patients before or during their scan. 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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Nuclear medicine groups announce new registry to bolster prostate cancer imaging with SPECT

The Nobody Left Behind or NOBLE Registry aims to establish prostate-specific membrane antigen SPECT imaging as a cost-effective and widely available alternative to PSMA-PET.

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Medical imaging isotope producer Shine finalizes merger with fusion technology specialist

With the help of Phoenix's advanced industrial imaging capabilities, the new entity hopes to ramp up its production of molybdenum-99.

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Amid COVID-19 vaccine rollout, providers may slowly resume ventilation/perfusion lung scans

SNMMI said V/Q scans can be increasingly incorporated as a normal part of the workup of suspected pulmonary embolism.

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Bracco announces new partnership with nuclear medicine specialist to expand cardiac PET access

The collaboration with CardioNavix is expected to benefit low-volume centers, community hospitals, physician practices and outpatient imaging locations.

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Nuclear medicine leader calls on physicians to remain ‘vigilant’ patient-first imagers

Pressures from payers and other groups may hamper providers, but ASNC President Randall C. Thompson, MD, said patients must always come first.

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Nuclear medicine group discovers payment rate error with PET imaging agent

SNMMI said it is working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the manufacturer of Cerianna to remedy the problem.

Premier nuclear medicine journal celebrates 60th anniversary with special issue

Beginning in the 1960s, the new edition traces such milestones as the invention of the Anger camera and the development of positron emission tomography.

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CCTA is a safe, effective alternative to SPECT in patients with stable chest pain

The findings come by way of the RESCUE Trial, which included more than 1,000 participants from 44 different sites.

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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.