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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Lantheus names new CEO, board chair

Lantheus Medical Imaging has appointed Jeffrey A. Bailey as its president, CEO and a member of the board of directors, and Brian A. Markison as chairman of the board.

PET depicts concussion-related brain pathology in ex-NFL players

Using a chemical marker that binds to abnormal tau proteins, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), for the first time have imaged the brain pathology associated with sports-related concussions in patients who are still alive.

Survey: Most neurorads plan to use amyloid scans for AD imaging

A majority of American neurologists in a recent survey said they would use a newly approved amyloid detection brain scan to evaluate their patients for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) if the scan was covered by health insurance, according to the survey results published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Los Alamos National Lab validates Shine’s Mo-99 production process

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., has reportedly demonstrated the production and separation of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from uranium sulfate solution using a separation flow sheet designed by Argonne National Laboratory.

MPI via dedicated cardiac camera cuts scan time, dose

SPECT-MPI imaging with a dedicated cardiac camera may reduce the duration of the acquisition and radiation dose to patients, according to a simulation study. Using reframed list-mode raw data, researchers determined that 1 million counts produced images on par with 8 million counts.

PET measure sheds light on response to chemo for breast cancer

The change in total lesion glycolysis measured prior to and after two cycles of chemotherapy provided a better prediction of response to chemotherapy than other PET measures, including change in standardized uptake value, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

The Balancing Act PET/CT: Ensuring Image Quality, Controlling Dose

New methods for PET/CT imaging are being developed for imaging cancer patients without overexposing them to radiation while also guaranteeing excellent image quality.

SPECT/CT’s Role in Post-Transplant Infection Imaging

Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of infection in post-transplant organ patients is critical to patient survival and the prevention of organ rejection. 

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