Medical Imaging

Physicians utilize medical imaging to see inside the body to diagnose and treat patients. This includes computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, angiography,  and the nuclear imaging modalities of PET and SPECT. 

PET captures how social rejection triggers a feel-good reaction

Painful rejection and other social ills prompt the same opioid response in the brain as physical pain, according to new in vivo PET neuroimaigng of snubbed subjects. 

PET/MR clinical applications growing

Once limited to research novelty, PET/MR has expanded significantly, and in particular in neuroimaging applications and oncologic use—especially for imaging head and neck tumors, according to a review in the September issue of Current Radiology Reports.

Amyloid plaque linked to arterial stiffness and hypertension

Healthy elderly patients with hardened arteries were up to four times more likely to have amyloid plaque in the brain, according to research published Oct. 16 in Neurology.

High-dose MIBG therapy stabilizes neuroendocrine tumors

Dose-intensification of systemic cancer therapy with I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-131 MIBG) may be ideal for palliative treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, according to a study published Oct. 7 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Spine MRI for Some Back Pain Added to Choosing Wisely List

North American Spine Society (NASS) adds advanced medical imaging for some back pain to list of questionable procedures kept by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Choosing Wisely initiative

Rotary Launches Free Resource for Building X-ray Facilities in Developing Nations

Recognizing that one of the obstacles to getting x-ray access to patients in developing nations is simply knowledge, the Rotary Club of Park Ridge, Ill, has put the information and experience it has gathered installing x-ray rooms in Africa, Central Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean online in a free library resource

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Probing for peripheral vascular disease with PET and SPECT

There is growing interest in applying molecular imaging techniques for the detection of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). A range of scanner-tracer combinations can be used for perfusion, angiogenesis and atherosclerotic imaging, according to a review published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

PET tracer could aid in prevention of epilepsy drug resistance

An estimated 30 percent of epileptics experience drug resistance. A PET agent may one day be used to track physiological mechanisms of resistance, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.