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.

FDA approves expanded use of radioembolization therapy for liver cancer
The added indications make the treatment the first Y-90 therapy approved for both unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic colorectal cancer of the liver.
Post-ablation PET imaging may not be cost-effective in patients with liver metastases
Although most radiology organizations agree that [18F]FDG PET/CT can provide valuable information in these patients post-treatment, their recommendations differ on its use.
FDA approves expanded use of PET imaging agent
The product's updated indications include quantification and long-term monitoring of amyloid plaques on imaging.
'Powerful' new PET agent improves the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer
The agent “exhibits powerful tumor delineation” in challenging cases of determining cancer subtypes, and could potentially lead to more personalized, effective treatment strategies.
Industry partnership set to advance research on theranostics
The deal will create a Therapy Command Center to support the study and use of theranostics across Massachusetts General Hospital and its affiliated centers in bordering states.

Is There a Role for PET/MR?

This issue highlights the emergence of PET/MR, which follows the introduction of SPECT/CT and PET/CT that have convincingly shown that multimodality imaging can result in significantly improved disease characterization.

Low-Dose Molecular Breast Imaging: Is It Finally Here?

Gamma Medica

Molecular breast imaging is proving its worth as an low-dose alternative to MRI for women with dense breasts.

18F-FDG PET Breaks New Ground in Small Cell Lung Cancer Imaging

While 18F-FDG PET is the gold standard for evaluating and managing patients with lung cancer, recent data have shown it also could be beneficial in diagnosing, staging and monitoring of small cell lung cancer.

Biomarker Update: Alzheimers Detection

This article discusses the recent updates in Alzheimers detection using amyloid PET radiotracer 18F-flutemetamol, proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood.

Deadline Approaches: How Nuclear Labs Prep for Accreditation

Independent nuclear laboratories are under a mandate to achieve accreditation by Jan. 1, 2012, to continue receiving Medicare reimbursement. While maneuvering the varied accreditation processes requires practice management savvycausing some practices to prolong the processthe impending deadline is approaching fast.

PET & PET/CT Earn Role in Oncologic Therapeutic Response

Slowly but steadily, radiation oncologists are adopting PET and PET/CT to measure the early response of cancers to radiotherapy and other treatments. And progress has been significant.

Treatment Monitoring with FDG PET/(CT)

The cover story in this issue discusses the role of PET imaging for assessing therapeutic responses in cancer. Over the past 15 years, a large body of evidence has demonstrated that FDG-PET imaging is uniquely useful to assess treatment responses in cancer patients.

Nuclear Imaging Helps Manage Heart Failure Patients

Using both PET and SPECT may have the potential to provide clinically useful data to enable better stratification and favorable treatments for heart failure patients.

Molecular Imaging

FDA approves expanded use of radioembolization therapy for liver cancer

Post-ablation PET imaging may not be cost-effective in patients with liver metastases

FDA approves expanded use of PET imaging agent

'Powerful' new PET agent improves the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer

Industry partnership set to advance research on theranostics