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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Evaluating the Evidence SPECT/CT & Thyroid Cancer

The capability to obtain complementary functional and anatomic information through a single device during a single session makes SPECT/CT an attractive option for numerous applications. In recent years, researchers have shown that SPECT/CT significantly improved the interpretation of planar studies of patients with thyroid cancer in the post-therapy setting. SPECT/CT is now being incorporated in the diagnostic setting to help in the post-operative staging, risk stratification and management of thyroid cancer patients. But is the evidence sufficient to change practice?

Molecular Imaging Merges Care & Cure

Sponsored by Philips Healthcare

A partnership works best when it enhances and rewards its partners. That is the case with the partnership between University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and Philips Healthcare that is focused on developing, advancing and enhancing medical and molecular imaging technology. It also benefits another very important group—patients.

Less is Not Always Better

This issue of Molecular Imaging Insight focuses on test accuracy, cost and outcomes—all very key topics in 2012.

Positron subsidiary nets FDA drug master file for Sr-82

Positron's subsidiary, Manhattan Isotope Technology, has received an acknowledgment letter and Drug Master File number assignment from the FDA for its strontium-82 drug substance.

Gamma imaging proves its prowess in DCIS detection

Breast-specific y camera scintigraphy is a highly specific tool for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) detection, and provides 100 percent sensitivity when paired with mammography, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Calif. governor signs breast density notification bill

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill requiring physicians to give extra warnings to women with dense breast tissue, informing the women that additional screening through ultrasound or MRI, as opposed to mammography alone, may be recommended.

Racial, socioeconomic disparities pervade PET imaging

Use of PET among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer increased from 2004 to 2008, but the increase was not even between sociodemographic groups as the modality had higher utilization among whites and those in higher income zip codes, according to a study published in the September issue of Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Perceived Radiation Risks, Alzheimers Disease and Next-generation Imaging Approaches

This issue provides discussions about potential risks associated with diagnostic tests in pediatric patients, PET probes for imaging neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as emerging hybrid imaging technologies such as PET/MRI.

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