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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Marsha Blackburn

Bipartisan senators urge CMS to bolster access to nuclear imaging in outpatient settings

Lawmakers led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., made their plea in a June letter to the head of the agency. 

brain money alzheimer dementia

Implications for radiology following the FDA’s approval of new Alzheimer’s treatment from Eli Lilly

Providers are required to obtain a recent baseline brain MRI prior to initiating treatment and individuals also must undergo scans prior to the second, third, fourth and seventh infusions. 
 

lantheus acquires rights from life molecular imaging

Lantheus lands rights to budding radiopharmaceuticals for initial outlay of $35M

One of the largest radiopharma companies in the world is acquiring global rights to a pair of novel therapeutic and diagnostic drugs used to target a peptide receptor overexpressed in prostate and breast cancers.

Telix Pharmaceuticals

PET imaging-agent developer Telix seeks to raise $200M through initial public offering

The Australian radiopharma firm's financial maneuver comes amid its roll out of the first targeted positron emission tomography agent for kidney cancer. 

Imaging advocacy group finds solution to ‘significant obstacle’ fueling shortages of PET/CT professionals

Demand is growing for the modality, but provider groups, particularly those in private practice, have struggled to meet state regulatory requirements. 

Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly inks deal worth over $1.1B to develop new radiopharmaceuticals

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker can hit the hefty total by reaching certain clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones.

House Representative Neal Dunn

House committee advances key legislation to strengthen pay for diagnostic imaging agents

The FIND Act is supported by several industry stakeholders including ACR and the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. 

Financial data showing growing revenue

RadNet sees quarterly revenue climb to ‘record’ $432M with double-digit growth across multiple modalities

Comparing only imaging centers that operated both quarters, MRI volumes increased 10% compared to Q1 of 2023 while PET/CT was up more than 15%. 

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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."

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