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. 

RSS icon
Thumbnail

Radiopharmaceutical firm Pentixapharm raises $22M through initial public stock offering

Founded in 2019, the firm is focused on developing products for the diagnosis and therapy of blood cancers and other indications not addressed by nuclear medicine. 

Matthew Roden, PhD, president and CEO of Aktis Oncology

Radiopharmaceutical firm Aktis Oncology raises $175M in Series B financing

The Boston clinical stage biotechnology company is working to develop new products to treat a range of solid tumors. 

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.

FDA approves GE HealthCare's flurpiridaz F-18 PET radiotracer for CAD

The newly approved radiotracer is seen as a major step forward for nuclear imaging technology. Specialists have been looking forward to its arrival on the market for quite some time.

Telix Pharmaceuticals

Imaging agent developer Telix to buy RLS radiopharmaceutical network for up to $250M

RLS operates America’s only Joint Commission-accredited radiopharmacy network, with 31 locations covering over 85% of the U.S. population. 

Thumbnail

Nuclear Regulatory Commission warns of medical mishaps stemming from radiopharmaceutical use

NRC estimates that 29 of these “medical events” occurred between 2021 and 2023, with “many” involving new therapeutic radiopharma procedures. 

Novartis

Novartis breaks ground on 2 new facilities aimed at increasing radiopharma production

The Swiss drugmaker recently started work on a new plant in Indianapolis, which will produce isotopes needed for key radioligand therapies. 

Siemens Healthineers

Siemens Healthineers to acquire Novartis imaging unit for over $223M

The Swiss pharmaceutical firm operates Europe’s second largest network of cyclotrons, used to manufacture radioactive compounds needed for PET scans.  

Newsletters

Imaging advocates want nuclear medicine technologists reclassified as healthcare professionals

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging made its case in an Aug. 12 letter to the Office of Management and Budget.

Displaying 1 - 8 of 134

Around the web

Health Imaging
Outdated manuals pose MRI safety risks for patients with medical implants

After reviewing years of data from its clinic, one institution discovered that issues with implant data integrity frequently put patients at risk. 

Health Imaging
What might reimbursements for proposed MRI safety CPT codes look like?

Prior to the final proposal’s release, the American College of Radiology reached out to CMS to offer its recommendations on payment rates for five out of the six the new codes.

Health Imaging
'A very, very good thing'—CMS proposes reimbursements for providers' efforts to ensure MRI safety

“Before these CPT codes there was no real acknowledgment of the additional burden borne by the providers who accepted these patients."

Design by Adaptive Theme
Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup