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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SHINE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES FILES THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION WITH NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

SHINE Medical Technologies, Inc. (SHINE), a Wisconsin-based company dedicated to being the world leader in safe, clean, and affordable production of medical isotopes and cancer treatment elements, has submitted its Construction Permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This submittal is the first formal step by SHINE in seeking an NRC permit to begin construction of its medical isotope facility in Janesville, Wisconsin.

AMIC teams with GSG International for Mo-99, Tech-99 distribution deal

Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation (AMIC) has entered into a strategic alliance with GSG International to collaborate in the joint development of technologies for the production of medical isotopes and the marketing and distribution of related isotopes, equipment and services.

Myocardial perfusion SPECT offers 5-year warranty

The short-term prognostic benefit of myocardial perfusion scintography (MPS) is well established, and the technique also delivers long-term value up to five years after initial imaging, according to a study in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology. 

Your brain: Use it or lose it

Patients with advanced education showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were found to be less vulnerable to neural damage associated with the disease, according to a review in the March publication of Neurology.

SNMMI, Alzheimer’s Association ramp up amyloid talks with CMS

 A March 22 teleconference between the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), Alzheimer's Association and other stakeholders discussed new appropriate use recommendations concerning amyloid imaging for the evaluation of Alzheimer's disease to be reviewed by CMS.

PET/CT fleshes out extent of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are conventionally evaluated with endoscopy and histology, but imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT could provide a more thorough picture of intestinal inflammation, according to a study published in the March edition of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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Lymph node-targeting tracer pinpoints more metastatic breast cancer

The newly approved imaging agent, Lymphoseek, sought out 94 percent of found breast cancer metastases to the sentinel lymph nodes, according to a study published in the March edition of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

FDA, EMA to review florbetaben

The FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have accepted Piramal Imaging’s applications for review of the investigational PET amyloid imaging agent [18F] florbetaben.

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