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.

Lymphoseek gets FDA orphan drug designation for head and neck cancers

Navidea, based in Dublin, Ohio, announced yesterday that the radiopharmaceutical company has received orphan drug designation for the small molecular radiotracer technetium-99m tilmanocept (Lymphoseek) specifically for sentinel lymph node mapping in cancer cases of the head and neck.

FDG-PET parameters predict survival in non-small cell lung cancer

Quantitative PET metrics including metabolic tumor volume using F-18 FDG can project heath outcomes after chemoradiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study presented Wednesday during the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) held Sept. 14-17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

ASTRO 2014: Precise radiotherapy saves more sexual function for prostate cancer patients

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) was compared with a combination therapy of EBRT and brachytherapy to see which provided long-term sexual health for patients with prostate cancer. Results indicated that both treatment plans led to a high level of sexual function due to isolated radiation, according to a study presented during the 2014 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) being held Sept. 14-17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

ASTRO 2014: Proton therapy's lightspeed promise

As the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) concludes today at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Molecular Imaging caught up with two experts in proton therapy technology and policy—David C. Beyer, MD, president-elect of ASTRO, and Sameer R. Keole, MD, vice chair of ASTRO’s government relations council and a radiation oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix—to talk about how this cutting-edge technology is changing.

Taking It to Heart: Hybrid PET for CAD

Two is better than one. At least that may prove to be the case with hybrid approaches that combine PET’s ability to assess myocardial blood flow with other modalities for diagnosing coronary artery disease.

AAIC 2014: Alzheimer’s Risk Factors in Sharper Relief

A number of factors are standing out as promoters for and protectors against the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to research presented during the 2014 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) that was held July 12-17 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Don’t Fear the IND Labyrinth: 5 Lessons Learned at an Academic Site

The challenge was delivered with stark clarity. “We need to establish a new approach to make it easy and affordable for our faculty to quickly transition their imaging probe research from cells and what they see in animal models into human subjects.

Q&A with Barry A. Siegel, MD: SNMMI Cassen Prize Winner

As the 2014 Annual Meeting for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) came to a close this year in St. Louis, Molecular Imaging Insight sat down with Barry A. Siegel, MD, professor of radiology and medicine and chief of the nuclear medicine division at local Washington University School of 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