Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine (also called molecular imaging) includes positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Nuclear imaging is achieved by injecting small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) into patients before or during their scan. 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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Copper-based radiotracer excels at PSMA imaging

Copper-based PSMA radiotracer shines in clinical trial

The tracer's extended half-life of over three hours could make it a promising candidate for future prostate cancer diagnostics. 

Medicare

Imaging advocates express frustration with final hospital outpatient payment rule

Medicare is reassigning one CPT code for SPECT scans, which will result in a 57% reduction in reimbursement for certain imaging exams. 

Telix Pharmaceuticals

Telix says new kidney cancer imaging agent alters treatment plans for 50% of patients

The positive findings come after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously shared concerns related to sterility assurance issues during the drug’s production.

UCLA Health

UCLA launches ‘first of its kind’ new standalone Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics

“Becoming an independent department elevates this work and strengthens UCLA’s role in shaping the future of precision health," said the department's new acting chairman. 

The new cardiac PET radiotracer flurpiridaz F-18 is posed to be a major game changer and will likely lead to increased adoption of cardiac PET.

Largest network of private cardiology groups in US to deploy GE HealthCare's cardiac PET tracer

One of the tracer’s more significant advantages is its extended half-life of 109 minutes—significantly longer than other currently available PET MPI imaging agents.

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Some PET exams may be overutilized in oncology

 In 2020 alone, there were more than 2 million 18F-FDG PET/CT scans conducted in the United States.

brain stethoscope alzheimer's dementia

FDA accepts application for new Alzheimer’s PET imaging agent from Lantheus

The company is working to commercialize MK-6240, a radiodiagnostic that targets tau protein tangles—a “key hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases.” 

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PSMA-PET imaging not the most cost-effective option for many prostate cancer patients

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.

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