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.

Department of energy partners to bolster domestic radioisotope supply
Gadolinium-153, or Gd-153, is routinely used to calibrate nuclear imaging equipment. It has been in short supply since 2023 when global distribution of the radioisotope came to a halt.
Health system touts $7M expansion of molecular imaging department, ER
Leaders at the Utah hospital are hopeful the newly updated PET offerings will help patients seek treatment locally, avoiding long travel times.
FDA clears new formulation of Lantheus' PSMA imaging agent
Lantheus expects the reformulated agent to be commercially available by the fourth quarter of 2026.
PET scans offer insight into how ketamine affects depression
Thanks to a newly developed radiotracer and PET imaging, experts believe they may have unearthed new insights on the drug's impact.
Lantheus receives tentative FDA approval for its radio-equivalent to Lutathera
Lantheus’ version of a radiopharmaceutical capable of targeting somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) has been tentatively approved by the FDA.

Department of energy partners to bolster domestic radioisotope supply

Gadolinium-153, or Gd-153, is routinely used to calibrate nuclear imaging equipment. It has been in short supply since 2023 when global distribution of the radioisotope came to a halt.

Intermountain Cedar City Hospital ED, imaging department

Health system touts $7M expansion of molecular imaging department, ER

Leaders at the Utah hospital are hopeful the newly updated PET offerings will help patients seek treatment locally, avoiding long travel times.

FDA clears new formulation of Lantheus' PSMA imaging agent

Lantheus expects the reformulated agent to be commercially available by the fourth quarter of 2026.

PET scans offer insight into how ketamine affects depression

Thanks to a newly developed radiotracer and PET imaging, experts believe they may have unearthed new insights on the drug's impact.

Lantheus receives tentative FDA approval for its radio-equivalent to Lutathera

Lantheus’ version of a radiopharmaceutical capable of targeting somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) has been tentatively approved by the FDA.

One PSMA agent outshines competitors at detecting prostate cancer recurrence

An ongoing study is evaluating how capably two PSMA agents assess urinary radioactivity and identify smaller lesions in post-prostatectomy patients with low PSA biochemical recurrence.

Combining PET and MRI data helps distinguish between LATE and Alzheimer's

Combining PET and MRI data may be key to differentiating new type of dementia

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, also known as LATE, was recently recognized as a type of dementia that occurs in older adults. It typically presents as memory-related cognitive decline.

Side effect of popular Alzheimer's treatment may actually be a good sign, new PET findings suggest

Amyloid-related imaging abnormality edema is a known side effect of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatments, such as Leqembi and donanemab Kisunla.