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
Radiologist using the Philips Smart Quant 3D Neuro artificial intelligence (AI) software to perform our measurements for white matter, gray matter and other parameters on brain MRI.

PHOTO GALLERY of brain imaging

This is a clinical photo gallery of neuro imaging and what conditions can be can be visualized in brain scans, and various imaging techniques used.

Thumbnail

After extracting $85M from imaging provider and its CEO, DOJ targets former chief financial officer

Florida resident Rick Nassenstein allegedly “played a central role” in a scheme that involved paying physicians “exorbitant” fees to refer patients for PET scans. 

FDA issues Class I recall notice for Philips nuclear imaging system

The alert pertains to its BrightView SPECT family of products, with concerns a loose screw could cause machinery to fall on a patient. 

brain money alzheimer dementia

Biogen discontinues Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, once expected to spur surge in imaging use

Screening for the drug necessitated a PET scan, and individuals also required a baseline MRI within one year before treatment, with more to follow. 

Thumbnail

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. 

Thumbnail

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. 

Displaying 49 - 56 of 155

Around the web

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

The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.

Health Imaging
AI reduces CT lung cancer screening workload by nearly 80%

And it can do so with almost 100% accuracy as a first reader, according to a new large-scale analysis.

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

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.