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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Hospital to decommission its nuclear medicine department due to lack of use

“We’re getting less and less referrals, and that number is dropping,” Anthony Mitarotondo, MD, director of Stony Brook Radiology, said during a recent public hearing. 

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Pharmacy firm eyes 2024 rollout of 1st targeted PET imaging agent for kidney cancer

Telix Pharmaceuticals recently submitted its license application to the FDA for the investigational positron emission tomography agent TLX250-CDx (Zircaix). 
 

PHOTO GALLERY: New technology at RSNA 2023

Images from the world's largest radiology conference include new technologies and the latest advances in MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, X-ray, artificial intelligence, and PACS/enterprise imaging.

Siemens Healthineers Biograph Vision.X

FDA clears PET/CT scanner from Siemens Healthineers

The Biograph Vision.X is able to deliver an estimated 20% performance improvement, bolstering throughput while reducing radiotracer costs. 

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Radiopharmaceutical startup raises $56M in series A financing from GE HealthCare, Mayo Clinic

Nucleus RadioPharma will use the money to establish manufacturing facilities—with one located in Rochester, Minnesota, near Mayo—and build new technology for distribution.

Robert Hendel, MD, Tulane University and former ASNC president, explains the pressing business aspects of nuclear cardiology and why ASNC included business management sessions at its 2023 annual meeting. #ASNC #ASNC23 #ASNC2023

Business considerations in the modern nuclear cardiology practice

Robert Hendel, MD, discussed everything from declining reimbursements in cardiology to prior authorization policies in an exclusive new interview. 

brain money alzheimer dementia

CMS removes national coverage determination for beta-amyloid PET, expanding access to vital imaging exam

Eliminating the previous “coverage with evidence development” requirement allows local MACs to dictate payment for such exams. 

Timothy Bateman, MD, co-director, cardiovascular radiologic imaging program, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, and an ASNC past-president, is one of the authors on the AURORA study. He spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the study and what it is like to work with flurpiridaz.

Flurpiridaz will have a major impact on cardiac PET and nuclear imaging

The new radiotracer flurpiridaz is poised to make a major impact on nuclear cardiology. Timothy Bateman, MD, co-director of the cardiovascular radiologic imaging program at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, shared details on the tracer in a new interview. 

Around the web

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

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.

“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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