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. 

Comparison of flurpiridaz F-18 PET, SPECT and angiography of the 60-year-old female patients in the Aurora trial. The SPECT scan appeared normal, but flurpiridaz was shown to be more sensitive and showed the ischemia from two blockages in the right coronary artery. The new radiotracer may help expand cardiac PET. #ASNC

Flurpiridaz data shows promise to expand and enhance cardiac PET

The biggest news from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2022 meeting was positive late-breaking data on the phase 3 Aurora trial for the flurpiridaz (F-18) PET radiotracer agent.

September 12, 2022

FDG-PET shown to predict pancreatic cancer outcomes prior to surgery, could guide treatment decisions

FDG-PET scans in these patients allow clinicians to determine whether the tumors are still viable or not, thus playing a significant role in making treatment decisions.

September 9, 2022
Two examples of PSMA-PET scans showing numerous prostate cancer metastases spread throughout the body. Many of these smaller tumors would not have been detected on previous standard-of-care imaging. Photo on left courtesy of SNMMI, right University of Chicago. #PSMAPET

PSMA-PET is rapidly changing the standard of care for prostate cancer patients

Adoption of PSMA-PET has been swift because it can significantly improve prostate cancer detection and treatment. SNMMI President Munir Ghesani, MD, explains how.

August 26, 2022
Munir Ghesani, MD, SNMMI president, explained the impact of PSMA-PET imaging on nuclear image and treatment for prostate cancer.

VIDEO: Advantages of PSMA-PET imaging in prostate cancer care

Munir Ghesani, MD, president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and system chief of nuclear medicine at Mount Sinai Health, explains PSMA-PET has seen rapid adoption because it can significantly improve prostate cancer detection and treatment. 
 

August 25, 2022
petctcovid.jpg

Whole-body PET image reveals body's immune response to COVID

In the study, patients who had recovered from an COVID infection were injected with a small amount of the 89Zr-labeled radiotracer before undergoing a uExplorer PET/CT scan.

August 11, 2022
neuroblastoma prognosis

18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics nomogram provides detailed insight into neuroblastoma

Better risk stratification can improve clinical decision making and better outcomes, experts involved in the study explained in EJR.

July 21, 2022
Organs

New PET imager cleared for U.S. sales

A Canadian manufacturer of positron emission tomography equipment has received FDA’s OK to market a small-footprint scanner that images targeted organs bearing radiotracers at close range.

July 20, 2022
Dementia

CMS initiates official review of PET scan limit for patients with Alzheimer's

"Clinical study protocols may involve more than one PET [amyloid-beta] scan per patient,” the CMS announcement said.

June 28, 2022

Around the web

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

"I see, at least for the next decade, this being a SPECT and PET world, not one or the other," explained Tim Bateman, MD.

The FDA-approved technology developed by HeartFlow can predict a patient's long-term risk of target vessel failure as well as more invasive treatments performed inside a cath lab. 

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