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. 

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Quantitative PET required to avoid pitfalls of amyloid imaging over time

Variability in longitudinal standard uptake value ratios when imaging Alzheimer’s patients with C-11 PiB and other amyloid agents create inaccurate portraits of disease progression, warranting a fully quantitative PET protocol for long-term research, according to a study published online Aug 12 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

FDG PET hot spots predict better prognosis in spinal surgery patients

Doctors can now tell how effective a surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy will be based on how much FDG is taken up by the cervical spinal cord, according to research published online August 5 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

FDG PET keeps tabs on lung oxygenation by quantifying pulmonary blood flow

In cases of acute lung injury, pulmonary blood flow (PBF) provides potentially critical information about lung aeration. An FDG PET method of compartmental modeling may quantify PBF by estimating regional fraction of blood, a breath of fresh air for pulmonary imaging, according to a study published August 1 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

FLT and FMISO may lack FDG's interreader agreement for lung cancer

In an effort to hike up radiochemotherapy dose and improve lung cancer survival, oncologists have been looking for higher-precision alternatives to F-18 FDG PET, which experiences issues with tumor shrinkage and alterations in uptake during treatment. However, emerging F-18 labeled alternatives fluorothymidine (FLT) and fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) show relatively low interobserver agreement when characterizing tumor volumes and require special standardization, according to a French multi-center study published August 5 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Five major mental illnesses are genetically linked

Mental disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression have some common genetic variants that account for significant risk of crossover disease, according to research published August 11 in Nature Genetics.

Chocolate on the Brain: MRI study shows cocoa boosts cognitive function

For older people showing signs of cognitive impairment, doctors could one day prescribe a daily dose of chocolate. New research shows regular cocoa consumption in the elderly led to significantly better neuronal metabolic function and blood flow, and subsequently improved cognition, according to a study published August 7 in Neurology.

Combined RIT is promising for genetically mutated colorectal cancer

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has not been able to gain traction for a majority of solid tumor types, but new evidence could put Cu-64 labeled DOTA-cetuximab in line for difficult-to-treat colorectal tumors with specific genetic mutations, according to a study published July 19 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

F-18 FLT bests other F-18 labeled agents for antiangiogenic therapy response

Angiogenesis is a hallmark of invasive cancer and antiangiogenesis therapies are gaining momentum, but some patients do not respond well. F-18 FLT may be the strongest contender out of three F-18 labeled PET agents used to evaluate early response to therapy, which aims to improve patient management and negate unnecessary treatments, according to research published August 1 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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