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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Bracco Imaging radiopharmaceutical firm Blue Earth Therapeutics raises nearly $77M

Leaders said the funding will help Blue Earth to further advance its development of PSMA-targeted therapies for prostate cancer. 

GE HealthCare Omni Legend PET/CT scanner production North America United States

GE HealthCare moves PET/CT scanner production to United States

The all-in-one Omni Legend PET/CT scanner is now being manufactured in a new production facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

FDA grants priority review for new brain cancer imaging agent

Pixclara (18F-FET) is a positron emission tomography product for the characterization of progressive or recurrent gliomas. 

Georgia Lawrence, JD, with ASNC, explains how CMS uses hospital reported data to develop cardiac PET payment rates.

Understanding hospital billing for cardiac PET/CT

Significant fluctuations in PET and CT reimbursement rates have made it especially challenging to keep up with this complex topic. We spoke to an expert to learn more.

Theranostics GE HealthCAre

GE HealthCare touts its leading role in $27.8M initiative to expand theranostics use

Thera4Care aims to strengthen the adoption of radiology-based diagnostics and therapies, bringing together 29 stakeholders from across the care continuum. 

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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.

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American College of Radiology announces significant expansion of Lung Cancer Screening Registry

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Health Imaging
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Health Imaging
Nearly $800,000 settlement offered to family of man who died during MRI exam

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