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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PET/CT Bolsters Sarcoma Armamentarium

Independent of one another, CT and PET have played important roles in the identification and staging of sarcomas. CTs anatomic capabilities have helped physicians locate sarcomas in patients, while PETs functional capabilities have assisted in monitoring treatment, grading sarcoma, separating benign from malignant masses, selecting biopsy sites, and assessing the extent of sarcomas.

Molecular Imagings Next Horizon: Whole-Body SPECT/CT

SPECT is far from the new kid on the molecular imaging block, but except for cardiac imaging, this nuclear medicine modality has not yet realized routine clinical utility as a replacement for conventional planar scanning. Recently developed reconstruction protocols and hybrid SPECT/CT scanners, however, could breathe new life into SPECT by opening the door to clinically feasible whole-body SPECT/CT. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is at the cutting edge of SPECT/CT research. This month, M.D. Anderson experts, Chair of Nuclear Medicine , Associate Professor , and Senior Medical Physicist Bill Erwin from the department of Imaging Physics discuss the clinical path to and potential of whole-body SPECT/CT.

64-slice Cardiac PET/CT: Slice Count Does Matter

Higher quality images and shorter acquisition times than stand-alone PET systems are among the benefits of adding 64-slice CT.

MR/PET: New Insights into Hybrid Imaging

Over the last decade, hybrid imaging has become a standard of care in radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine and oncology. Integrated scanning systems offer a number of advantages for physicians and patients.

Expert Panel Defines State of the Art and Future of Molecular Imaging

 A panel of seven clinical experts and public policy leaders offer insight on personalized medicine, technology, biomarkers and the DRA.

To the Bone: SPECT/CT Drives Diagnostic Clarity

Torsten Kuwert, MD, of the University of Erlangen, details how new techniques in SPECT/CT are gaining wider acceptance in diagnosing and staging indeterminate bone lesions—in a single patient visit.

PET Scanning Meets High Definition

Ready to take PET scanning to the next level in its debut this month, high-definition PET (HD•PET) scans optimize image uniformity and enable visualization of smaller structures.

The Big Picture

Molecular imaging is providing new insights into human physiology and disease. It provides more accurate diagnosis, cancer staging, restaging and treatment monitoring, and allows for highly accurate determinations of cardiac and brain function. Molecular imaging thus enables more appropriate and timely treatment decisions.

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