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. 

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Covid Lung

Doctors at odds over low-dose radiation treatment in COVID-19 patients

At least a dozen trials across the globe are underway testing LDRT as a treatment for virus-related pneumonia, but some experts aren't convinced.

July 16, 2020

Most countries face nuclear imaging supply issues, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem

A team of international researchers queried 35 countries representing nearly 75% of all global nuclear medicine sites, publishing their findings in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

July 15, 2020
Tina_Buehner_IMG

SNMMI taps new nuclear medicine experts to lead its technologist section

The society announced a new president and president-elect to lead its member technologists during its virtual meeting.

July 14, 2020
Brain

First in-human study proves PET tracer safe, effective for imaging aggressive brain tumors

Beijing researchers tested the radiopharmaceutical—64Cu-EBRGD—in a handful of patients, with no adverse symptoms up to a week after their exam.

July 13, 2020
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New PET/MRI method spots chronic pain points, alters more than half of management plans

One Stanford University School of Medicine radiologist is hopeful this will lay the groundwork for an entirely new subspecialty in nuclear medicine and radiology.

July 13, 2020
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SNMMI elects new president, other leadership positions during annual meeting

The organization also announced its incoming president-elect and vice president-elect.

July 13, 2020
Brain

New tau PET tracer a powerful diagnostic tool for rare, fatal brain disease

18F-PI-2620 revealed the "first evidence" that the radiopharmaceutical could help reliably detect progressive supranuclear palsy, experts said in JAMA Neurology.

July 7, 2020
COVID-19

‘Time has come’ to utilize low-dose radiation in fight against COVID-19

The treatment would shorten the course of the disease and cut the number of intensive care patients by one-third, researchers wrote in a letter to the editor published recently.

July 7, 2020
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