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. 

PET/CT in HD: Seeing More, Clearly

High-definition is the goal in PET/CT imaging. HD met PET/CT last yearwhen Siemens Medical Solutions introduced a new technology designed tobring significant improvements to PET/CT image quality. High DefinitionPET (HD•PET) brings the promise of sharper and more clearly definedimages across the entire field of view, as well as the potential toprovide greater accuracy in lesion detection, especially small lesions,and thus improve cancer staging and more targeted treatment.

Turning to SPECT/CT for Calcium Scoring to Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease

Michael Milbourne, MD, of New Life Cardiovascular in Wyndmoor, Pa., anuclear cardiologist in academic and private practice, is committed tooffering his patients outstanding, informed and proactive clinicalcare. In the last year, SPECT/CT has become an essential diagnostictool in Milbourne’s practice. 

Pint-size Power: PET/CT and SPECT/CT in Pediatrics

PET/CTa technology whose potential is now being appreciated, but has yet to be fully realizedhas proven successful in the accurate staging and monitoring of oncology patient therapy for a variety of cancers. SPECT/CT, while relatively new, is beginning to make its mark in areas such as oncology, cardiology, neurology imaging. 

Diagnosing Heart Disease

Diagnosing heart disease in women—the No. 1 cause of death of womenacross the globe—is sometimes difficult, but molecular PET and SPECTimaging is beginning to contribute to resolving this problem.

The Ammonia Option: PET/CT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

13N-ammonia, an established imaging probe for measuringmyocardial perfusion, has now been made available for use in thecommunity. This has thus far been difficult because of the shorthalf-life of 13N-ammonia of about 10 minutes. But even that time factor has been worked out.

Hybrid Imaging: Redefining Women's Heart Health

 PET/CT and SPECT/CT are helping to detect and diagnose coronary artery disease in women earlier and better. Previously under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed altogether particularly in women, new exams are effectively assessing myocardial perfusion, offering an alternative to nuclear stress tests that often lead to false positive results in women. Fewer attenuation artifacts also mean sharper images.

Molecular Imaging Training Gaining Traction

As molecular imaging emerges from the cocoon of nuclear medicine, fueled by changes that have made it a vital technique for diagnosing disease and predicting and monitoring treatment response, training for physicians and technologists has made its way to the forefront for many education programs around the United States.

DCE MRI: Standards in the Works

Dynamic contrast agent enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) is a fairly well-established technique that was first introduced in the early 1990s. Used in the pharmaceutical and clinical research environments, the post-processing algorithm evaluates dynamic images to measure contrast agent uptake in target tissue.