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.

FDA approves expanded use of PET imaging agent
The product's updated indications include quantification and long-term monitoring of amyloid plaques on imaging.
'Powerful' new PET agent improves the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer
The agent “exhibits powerful tumor delineation” in challenging cases of determining cancer subtypes, and could potentially lead to more personalized, effective treatment strategies.
Industry partnership set to advance research on theranostics
The deal will create a Therapy Command Center to support the study and use of theranostics across Massachusetts General Hospital and its affiliated centers in bordering states.
SNMMI unveils its 2025 Image of the Year
The designation was awarded to a research team from China, who analyzed the efficacy of a novel radiotracer developed to target expression of the PD-L1 protein in suspected head and neck cancers.
3 industry partnerships, 1 clinical aim: Enriching the global supply chain of medical isotopes
Nuclear medicine operations may soon enjoy steadier flows of certain in-demand radioisotopes. If so, much credit will go to companies that had the strategic sense to collaborate with each other.

Year in Images 2014

This year, Molecular Imaging Insight is not only providing some of the most stunning images from our pages, but also a few research exclusives and offerings from a handful of scientific meetings from around the world, including the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) and the European Congress of Radiology (ECR).

The Evolution of SPECT

The evolution of SPECT imaging has taken many twists and turns as both equipment technology and new radiopharmaceuticals have been developed over the past decade.

The Business of Molecular Imaging: A Panoply of Challenges

As is true in all clinical disciplines, nuclear medicine practitioners face challenges and obstacles that do not end with procedures and patient care.

Lightspeed: The Coming of Age of Proton Therapy

Proton therapy used to be the next-generation cancer treatment that was larger than life and too expensive for any institution other than the most cutting-edge research hospital.

WMIC Looking Ahead to 2015

The 2014 World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC) put a spotlight on the basic science and translation of molecular imaging at the World Trade Center in Seoul, South Korea, in September.

Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Imaging’s Increasing Role

Currently ranked the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and slated to move up the list to No. 2 in the next few years, pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate and among the poorest prognoses of all major cancers. 

Coqui signs contract with INVAP for Florida isotope facility

Coral Gables, Fla., based Coqui RadioPharmaceuticals is moving forward with designs for a new medical isotope production facility in Alachua, Fla. An agreement to that effect has been signed by INVAP, an Argentine firm specializing in nuclear engineering, Coqui announced Nov. 20.

Lower scan time, dose in SPECT MPI

A new SPECT protocol allows researchers to not only cut scan times down to a quarter of the average time, but it could also be used to lower dose, according to a study published Nov. 20 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Molecular Imaging

FDA approves expanded use of PET imaging agent

'Powerful' new PET agent improves the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer

Industry partnership set to advance research on theranostics

SNMMI unveils its 2025 Image of the Year

3 industry partnerships, 1 clinical aim: Enriching the global supply chain of medical isotopes