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. 

'Caring suites' humanize medical imaging

The University of California San Francisco is creating a magical new world of woodland forests and cable cars in a family friendly molecular imaging and radiology suite, reports SF Gate. 

July 30, 2014

Frost And Sullivan applauds Gamma Medica for improving the quality and efficiency of breast cancer diagnosis with its unique LumaGEM MBI System

Based on its recent analysis of the breast imaging systems market, Frost and Sullivan recognizes Gamma Medica with the 2014 Global Frost and Sullivan Award for Product Leadership.

July 29, 2014

Neuro study of worms is a 'brain hack'

Nematode worms are providing a very, very small window on the neural connections that we humans share. A feature in New Scientist follows the circuitous path of our knowledge about consciousness and the neural networks of the brain.

July 24, 2014

Plumbing the depths of PTSD

A feature in The New Yorker explores how Daniela Schiller, PhD, from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Brain Imaging Core in New York City, has approached a kind of memory erasure for people who have suffered greatly from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the aid of cutting-edge neuroimaging.

July 22, 2014

Proton detectors for better therapy

A cutting-edge detector developed by researchers in the United Kingdom and South Africa stands to spark more effective proton therapy for cancer patients.

July 16, 2014

AAIC 2014 convenes in Copenhagen

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference is schedule to be held July 12-17 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark. The meeting will feature many scientific sessions, plenary sessions and symposia dedicated to the most up-to-date Alzheimer's disease research.

July 11, 2014

Patients at Henry Ford Wyandotte now receive half-dose nuclear medicine imaging

UltraSpect, provider of the only multi-vendor and most cost-effective imaging solution for meeting the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) low dose guidelines, announces today that Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital in Michigan has upgraded its nuclear medicine (NM) image reconstruction software to UltraSpect Xpress3.Cardiac. As a result, all patients receiving NM exams now have exams in half the time, with half the dose, regardless of the model or age of camera being used.

July 11, 2014

International Academy of Cardiology Annual Scientific Sessions 2014

The 19th world congress on heart disease organized by the International Academy of Cardiology will be covering the cutting edge of cardiovascular research, including molecular and cellular cardiology, from July 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency Boston.

June 25, 2014

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

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