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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Medical isotope firm Shine breaks ground on new 54,000-square-foot facility

By 2022, the company said its facility will be fully operational and capable of producing more than 300,000 doses of lutetium-177 each year.

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Novel PET imaging tracer helps researchers diagnose rare form of lymphoma

MRI is the current standard imaging modality used for this disease, but it falls short in many key areas, German researchers explained recently.

ACR, Alzheimer’s Association launch new amyloid brain PET study focused on underserved populations

The investigation builds off the larger IDEAS Study and will include at least 4,000 Black and Hispanic patients out of the estimated 7,000 total participants.

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CCTA is a safe, effective alternative to SPECT in patients with stable chest pain

The findings come by way of the RESCUE Trial, which included more than 1,000 participants from 44 different sites.

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Lantheus agrees to sell offshore radiopharmacy and PET facility to PharmaLogic in $18M cash deal

The stock purchase deal also includes a long-term supply agreement, which is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to wrap-up in the first quarter of next year.

‘Game changer’: FDA approves first PSMA-targeted PET imaging tracer for men with prostate cancer

Both the University of California, San Francisco, and UCLA received the greenlight for Gallium-68 PSMA-11 and noted it is rare for academic institutions to obtain such approval.

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Top nuclear imaging group ‘strongly disagrees’ with Humana’s decision to refuse coverage for PET/CT

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging said the move denies patients access to potentially lifesaving technologies.

FDA expert panel votes against Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug, dashing latest hopes for treatment

Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns said the vote was disappointing, claiming publicly released data on aducanumab justified its federal approval.

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