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. 

RSS icon
Thumbnail

National Parkinson's Foundation gifts nearly $1M to top studies

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is providing almost $1 million in funding for four major studies in Parkinson's disease, the Foundation announced May 22.

Alzheimer's treatment enters phase III trial this year

AZTherapies, a Boston-based biomedical company investigating Massachusetts General Hospital-licensed treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), announced May 23 that the FDA has cleared the path for a phase III clinical trial for ALZT-OP1, a combination of two drugs with the aim of curbing the neurodegenerative disease in its earliest stages.

NTP Radioisotopes: A glowing example of a South African triumph

NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd, a subsidiary of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), produces a quarter of the world's medical radioisotopes used to allow for about 40 million medical diagnostic images every year, making it the third largest producer and supplier globally. This proud South African corporate citizen is situated at the sophisticated Necsa nuclear facility site, west of Pretoria and routinely serves customers in 60 countries on six continents with its range of nuclear radiation-based products and services.

Thumbnail

Imaging Genomics in the Age of Bioinformatics

No longer are oncologists settling for vague positive and negative results. Tumors are as varied in their topography as any terrain on the planet and distinct characteristics in texture and morphology are important for tumor staging and predicting survival.

Fighting for the Cause: Could It Mean a Cure?

I have been thinking lately about issues related to the direction of research funding for the field of molecular imaging. I have to confess my preference for nuclear techniques in this regard since tracer techniques usually have the advantage of not perturbing the observed state. 

Thumbnail

Q&A with a PET Agent Expert

An exclusive interview with Michael Graham, MD, PhD, covering the latest developments in PET radiopharmaceuticals, from drugs just approved and blazing trail in clinical use, to compounds in the far reaches of research.

Thumbnail

Isotope Crisis: New Technologies Primed for Post-Chalk River Production

Continued shutdowns at research reactors throughout the world have created shortfalls in essential medical isotope supply for several years. 

Thumbnail

Strengths, Struggles & Strategies Managing Image Data

The drive for heterogeneity in molecular imaging calls for management of complex imaging data in massive volumes, a task that is challenging information technology experts and medical community members alike. 

Displaying 745 - 752 of 1373
Design by Adaptive Theme