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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Chronic REM sleep disorder may lead to neurodegenerative wake-up call

REM behavior disorder (RBD) is highly correlated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease including Parkinson’s, according to a brain study presented during the recent Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2014 Annual Meeting.

Preclinical Opti-SPECT/PET/CT system preps intraoperative drug discovery

Jigsaw preclinical imaging is not a new concept. However novel instrumentation called Opti-SPECT/PET/CT presented during the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) held June 7-11 in St. Louis brings together a full spectrum of molecular imaging technology into one system—and one scan. Bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging agents developed with the platform could one day be implemented as intraoperative tracers during surgery, most notably for oncologic procedures.

FAP inflammation imaging narrows in on osteoarthritis

SPECT and PET can detect the pathology of chronic joint pain due to rheumatoid arthritis when performed with agents that target antifibroblast activation protein (FAP) antibodies, according to a study presented last week during the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in St. Louis.

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Peptide receptor chemo-radionuclide therapy trips up more NETs

Chemo and radionuclide therapy together with the addition of drugs that make patients more radiosensitive have been shown to diminish and even suppress neuroendeocrine tumors (NETs) from progressing in 70 percent of cases. As a result, peptide receptor chemo-radionuclide therapy may offer patients improved survival rates, according to a study presented at the recent Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2014 Annual Meeting held June 7-11 in St. Louis.

SPECT/CT spots source of low back pain

Back pain is a burden for most people at some point in their lifetime, but pinpointing the reason for the pain can be tricky. Researchers presenting during the recent Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2014 Annual Meeting in St. Louis have found that SPECT/CT in addition to conventional bone scan gets straight to the point of pain, leading to much higher pain relief following intervention.

ASTRO and AAPM announce RO-ILS: Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS)

Together, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) will share details about RO-ILS: Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System, a new, national patient safety initiative to facilitate safer and higher quality radiation oncology care.

Personalized care from disease detection through treatment assessment enabled with GE Healthcare’s Discovery IQ

During the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, GE Healthcare introduced its Discovery IQ PET/CT system, enabling both outstanding image quality and intelligent quantitation, helping physicians deliver the best possible patient outcomes.

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Lymphoseek: Newly approved for oral cavity cancer, more expansion expected

Lymphoseek, otherwise known as technetium Tc-99m tilmanocept, is now available for use in sentinel lymph-node mapping of patients with cases of head and neck cancer. Producer Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, based in Dublin, Ohio, held a teleconference for stakeholders yesterday to discuss the expanded approval.

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