Positron emission tomography/computed tomography is a hybrid nuclear medicine imaging technique that helps radiologists spot abnormal metabolic activity. PET/CT is commonly used to diagnose cancers, heart diseases and certain brain disorders, among other conditions.
The exam effectively helps providers manage patients’ treatment options, but for some, the costs associated with those treatments may negate the value of its findings.
Targeting CXCR4 during PET scans could help providers gain vital information regarding patients' potential to fully recover from myocardial infarction.
Beyond amyloidosis, nuclear cardiology is also increasingly used to image inflammation and infection in the myocardium, especially in diseases such as cardiac sarcoidosis and myocarditis.
PET has already gained significant momentum in recent years. Now, researchers are pointing to another possible use for the popular imaging modality: assessing carotid artery atherosclerosis.
Experts hope the information gained from their research could help providers better determine whether patients will regain mobility after sustaining an injury.
If 25% tariffs go into effect, it could have a big impact on the cost of medical imaging and radiotherapy systems, with many manufacturing facilities in Mexico.
There are numerous radiotracers specifically designed to identify prostate cancer, but experts say one may be superior to the others at both the patient and lesion level.
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) says positron emission tomography (PET) nuclear imaging has seen wider adoption in the past few years, and many cardiac imaging experts say it could become the workhorse technology for nuclear cardiac assessments over the next decade.
The new appropriate use criteria define 17 specific clinical scenarios, guiding providers on situations when amyloid or tau imaging are and are not appropriate.