CONFERENCE NEWS

SNM highlights benefits of information science, technology with InfoSNM debut

Written by Editorial Staff   
Wed, Jun 06 2007

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SNM unveiled its InfoSNM program, a resource to explore the growth of information science and technology, and the application of computer systems in nuclear medicine research and education. The program was a highlight of this week’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

“Computers and information science—and how they are essential to clinical data processing, image data management, education and science for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine…” was the major thrust of the first-time program, said SNM’s Scientific Program Chair Frederic H. Fahey.

“Computers are an essential part for molecular imaging research and nuclear medicine procedures,” said Fahey, who anticipates that the popularity of this program will increase in years to come.

InfoSNM offered computer demonstrations by vendors, computer classrooms used for commercial presentations and general computer education, and computer-based presentations on the use of information science and technology that has been developed in laboratories. “Computers and information science touch so many aspects of what molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionals do every day,” added Fahey.

Members of SNM’s Scientific Program Committee, its Computer and Instrumentation Council and IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise), all contributed to the InfoSNM program.

Multiple novel research topics were explored during the week during six computer-based presentation, topics including:
  • the development of a PET/CT database of patient information and scanning parameters;
  • clinical trial data collection and image analysis using hand-held technology;
  • a tumor metrics measurement and tracking system;
  • using simulation to research ideas in emission tomography;
  • dementia evaluation using automated software-based age/sex-matched normal database comparison;
  • 4D phantoms for medical imaging simulation of mice and men;
  • co-registration and visualization of cardiac CT studies and dynamic PET studies using scene-graphs, direct volume rendering and 2-D transfer functions; and
  • comparative evaluation of serial hybrid imaging studies for quantitative assessment of therapeutic response.