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.

COVID-induced neuroinflammation can last 2 years or longer, according to new PET data
These findings are important to consider with regard to patients’ long-term health, as chronic inflammation has been implicated in cognitive decline.
Researchers' testing of industrial dyes could lead to the development of dementia-specific imaging agents
There are dozens of different subtypes of dementia, and it can be a challenge to determine the exact type affecting a patient.
NIH grants to fund study of molecular imaging in stroke care
NIH is hopeful the research will enable doctors to detect signs of stroke damage earlier, opening the door for them to initiate treatments in a timelier manner.
Late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses on the rise
Experts say these new findings highlight the need for more effective screening initiatives among men who may face access barriers.
Compact multifunctional PET scanner receives clearance in the US
The system was built with patients in mind, and its compact design has the potential to expand access to the modality where it may have previously been lacking.

SNMMI 2013 Image of the Year: Radium-223 Dichloride Response in Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients

Vancouver, British Columbia – An 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan illustrating the effectiveness of radium-223 dichloride in treating bone metastases in breast cancer patients with bone-dominant disease has been selected as the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2013 Image of the Year. Researchers selected this image from more than 2,000 studies presented over the course of four days during SNMMI’s 2013 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Sequester bites NIH funding, Alzheimer’s research

With increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease threatening to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid by 2050, the fiscal pinch of the sequester could extend decades into the future and compromise already-limited progress on Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment. A letter in the New York Times detailed the data.

SNMMI: Cardiac PET/MR on par with PET/CT

MR can be employed for PET attenuation correction, and PET/MR assessment for cardiac muscle viability delivered comparable results to PET acquired using PET/CT, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in Vancouver.

Siemens Introduces Continuous FlowMotion PET•CT

At the 2013 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), June 8-12 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Siemens Healthcare (booth 720) will introduce Biograph mCT Flow – a groundbreaking new positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) system that, for the first time ever, overcomes the limitations of conventional bed-based PET/CT with FlowMotion, a revolutionary new technology that moves the patient smoothly through the system’s gantry, while continuously acquiring PET data.

IBA Molecular, MIM Software Sign Agreement for PETLinQ Enhancement

IBA Molecular North America, Inc. (IBA Molecular) and MIM Software Inc. (MIM Software™) have announced an agreement to co-develop enhancements to the IBA Molecular PETLinQ™ suite of products

SNMMI: PET/MR surpasses PET/CT gold standard for recurrent prostate cancer

PET/MR scans demonstrated a higher capacity for mapping recurrent prostate cancer by finding more areas of prostate cancer metastases than hybrid PET/CT imaging, according to the results of a study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2013 Annual Meeting in Vancouver.

SNMMI: Alzheimer’s precursor? Amyloid connected to hypometabolism in healthy brains

Amyloid plaque burden has been linked with hypometabolism of neurons in areas of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the results of a study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2013 annual meeting in Vancouver.

MRI diffusion changes may signal cognitive decline

Ischemic small-vessel disease (SVD) wreaks havoc on the brain’s executive function and processing speed and is thought to be caused by gradual disconnects in the white matter tract and other cortical tissues leading to long-term cognitive impairment and disability. However, diffusion changes in apparently healthy tissues can reveal tell-tale signs of impending cognitive decline, according to a study published February 19 in the Annals of Neurology.

Molecular Imaging

COVID-induced neuroinflammation can last 2 years or longer, according to new PET data

Researchers' testing of industrial dyes could lead to the development of dementia-specific imaging agents

NIH grants to fund study of molecular imaging in stroke care

Late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses on the rise

Compact multifunctional PET scanner receives clearance in the US