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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Hybrid PET/MRI tops multiparametric MRI for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer

Researchers tested Gallium 68-labeled PSMA-PET/MRI in patients who had yet to undergo a biopsy, a key difference from most prior analyses, they explained in Radiology.

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Imaging advocates, bipartisan lawmakers unite to oppose ‘misguided and massive’ Medicare pay cuts

Congressmen highlighted a planned wage increase for clinical labor that will spell 20% reductions elsewhere, due to budget neutrality. 

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NorthStar wins federally backed $37M agreement to advance Mo-99 capabilities

With this new award, the Beloit, Wisconsin, company has received upward of $100M in cooperative agreements from the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Transformative prostate cancer therapy ‘should not be accepted’ without PET imaging

Two Stanford University experts made their case for using molecular imaging to select patients for 177-Lu-PSMA-617 in a new Journal of Nuclear Medicine editorial.

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US regulators considering changes to long-standing extravasation reporting requirements

A U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission subcommittee recommends mandatory reporting of certain skin damage caused by radiation, but the suggestion is far from finalized.

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ACR warns against using ‘arbitrary’ radiation dose metrics to guide medical imaging decisions

Relying on pre-established dose guidance can keep patients from undergoing clinically necessary exams, top radiation safety organizations cautioned in a new joint statement.

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Practices not aligned on renal scintigraphy protocols—it may be hurting kidney imaging results

Thirty-five different techniques for administering diuretics are used across 105 sites, authors reported in JACR.

Hybrid PET/MRI spares 20% of brain tumor patients from unnecessary follow-up treatment

18F-FET PET/MR also changed providers' clinical management plans in more than 30% of cases, experts reported recently.