With the introduction of new molecular imaging modalities, the line between nuclear medicine and radiology blurs a little bit more. While there might have been some tension in the past, with radiologists viewing nuclear medicine as unclear medicine and nuclear medicine physicians operating without the knowledge and experience of cross-sectional imaging, there is now a meeting of the minds of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. SPECT/CT utilization is steadily being greeted with more enthusiasm and acceptance within the radiologic community, particularly due to its ability to merge anatomical and functional information, and ultimately, increase diagnostic accuracy and expediency.

Truly integrated imaging has arrived. The lines between radiologyand nuclear medicine have blurred with increased utilization ofcross-modality solutions. Several factors are fueling the uptake ofPET/CT—the primary integrated imaging solution.

CLR1404 is entering clinical trials as an anti-cancer therapy agent. It appears well-suited to staging a variety of cancer types and metastatic disease. More specific than FDG, it avoids the complications caused by inflammation or scar tissue. Stay tuned.

In the past decade, CT has established itself as a workhorse in providing anatomical landmarks for molecular imaging. Pairing of the technology with traditional nuclear medicine modalities such as SPECT and PET has propelled the growth of molecular imaging beyond the boundaries of academic research into the mainstream of clinical care.

The National Cancer Institute and researchers around the globe are exploring and developing an array of new biomarkers that could edge molecular imaging toward routine clinical practice and help deliver on the promise of personalized medicine.

Imaging biomarkers have been developed for use in early cancer diagnosis, staging and restaging of disease and monitoring the effects of therapeutic interventions. In addition, biomarkers for evaluating coronary function and perfusion are well-established. Imaging biomarkers targeting neurodegenerative diseases also are widely used in the clinic.

Obesity is a known risk factor for ischemic heart disease, and conducting advanced coronary analysis within this patient population is challenging. SPECT/CT has emerged as a molecular imaging workhorse for evaluating obese patients with coronary artery disease.

 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.