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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Survey data reveal a potential window of opportunity for attracting student interest in nuclear medicine

Experts recently detailed their efforts to garner more student interest in the field—efforts that were successful, according to a survey responses from students who completed a short nuc med seminar.

neuroblastoma prognosis

18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics nomogram provides detailed insight into neuroblastoma

Better risk stratification can improve clinical decision making and better outcomes, experts involved in the study explained in EJR.

New PET imager cleared for U.S. sales

A Canadian manufacturer of positron emission tomography equipment has received FDA’s OK to market a small-footprint scanner that images targeted organs bearing radiotracers at close range.

MRI confirmed as gold standard for pre-biopsy detection of prostate cancer—but that’s ‘not the end of the story’

A clinical trial pitting MRI against a burgeoning PET/CT technique has found the de facto defending champion better at revealing the presence of any grade of prostate cancer.

Big private payer reverses course on cardiac PET/CT coverage

One of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. has gone from considering hybrid PET/CT for cardiac indications “experimental/investigational” to displaying willingness to pay for the modality. 

CMS initiates official review of PET scan limit for patients with Alzheimer's

"Clinical study protocols may involve more than one PET [amyloid-beta] scan per patient,” the CMS announcement said.

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Preoperative PET/CT imaging linked with better survival in advanced lung cancer

PET/CT imaging in these patients increases overall survival depending on the cancer’s stage, with those diagnosed with stage 3A and 3B NSCLC appearing to benefit the most from the exam. 

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

Lower doses, faster acquisitions: Experts share how to improve PET scans for peds

This week in AJR, experts shared how they were able to reduce FDG PET scan acquisition times by 33%, thus reducing the amount of total radiation exposure to more vulnerable pediatric patients.