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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‘Tremendous setback’: Imaging advocate blasts CMS decision on Alzheimer’s care

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance challenged Medicare's limited coverage for beta-amyloid PET, used to help identify those at risk.

GE HealthCare recalling nuclear imaging systems as FDA warns of dangerous consequences

The FDA alerted patients and providers about the issue Feb. 15, labeling it as the agency’s “most serious” type of recall. 

FDA grants passage to autonomous, biology-guided radiotherapy

A therapeutic oncology company has been cleared to market a cancer treatment that that turns a tumor’s own biology into a self-signaling target for radiation therapy.

Mo-99 supplier reaches ‘major milestone’ in non-uranium-based production

Backed with financial support and technical prowess from the U.S. Department of Energy, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes has shown it can produce, at scale, a critical nuclear imaging radiotracer without using highly enriched uranium.

ASNC 2023 president calls for nuclear cardiology to embrace new technology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2023 President Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, MD, said the subspecialty needs to up its game with new technology.

A CT coronary calcium scoring exam at Northwestern Medicine's Central DuPage Hospital in the Chicago Suburbs. Dave Fornell

Trends in the number of radiology studies and a decline in radiation dose

A special report in Radiology offers a rare overview of the number of radiology exams performed each year worldwide and focuses on the decline of associated radiation doses patients receive.

FDA expands indications for neuroimaging radiotracer

An established radiopharmaceutical can now be applied with the FDA’s blessing when symptoms of cognitive decline point to the second most common form of degenerative dementia (after only Alzheimer’s disease).  

FAPI PET/CT shows promise as a better radiotracer for cancer than 18F-FDG. It also can be used for detection of infection and inflammation.

VIDEO: 6 key advances in molecular imaging technology for PET and SPECT

Munir Ghesani, MD, President of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), system chief of nuclear medicine at Mount Sinai Health, explains recent advances in nuclear imaging technology.

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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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