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. 

Whole-body PET/MRI helps stage high-risk prostate cancer patients

In patients with prostate cancer, accurate primary staging is important for developing a treatment strategy. A study published in the December issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine found whole-body PET/MRI may offer a “one-stop-shop” to do so.

December 12, 2018

Missouri university awarded $6.3M to develop novel PET tracers

The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSTL) was awarded a five-year, $6.3 million grant to establish a new research center to develop and test novel PET tracers.

December 12, 2018

AI method generates high-quality amyloid PET images using less radiation

Artificial intelligence (AI) can generate high-quality amyloid PET images from simultaneously acquired MR images and ultra-low-dose PET data, according to a Dec. 11 study published in Radiology.

December 11, 2018

PET imaging may help personalize tuberculosis meningitis treatment

PET imaging may hold promise for personalizing treatment in patients with tuberculosis meningitis (TBM), a rare disease that leaves some survivors with permanent brain damage, reported researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

December 6, 2018

PET/CT-guided therapy improves survival in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients

Authors of a recent study reported improved survival in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) whose first-line therapy was guided by PET/CT instead of CT alone.

December 5, 2018
Patients in waiting room.

Researchers examine patient disparities, utilization of Fluciclovine-PET imaging

The use of [18F]Fluciclovine-PET imaging is steadily increasing in patients with suspected prostate cancer, but a new single-center study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found some have more difficulty undergoing the exam than others.

November 16, 2018

SNMMI: Mo-99 shortage may end soon

The Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) shortage is expected to subside over the coming few weeks as generators across the globe slowly begin to resume production, according to the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

November 15, 2018

Women are underrepresented in nuclear medicine, especially in leadership positions

While the number of female medical students has risen, women specialists remain underrepresented in nuclear medicine in the U.S. and Canada—specifically in academic and leadership positions, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

November 15, 2018

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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