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SNMMI in the News

• Florbetapir shows promise in preclinical Alzheimer's study

  Dec 18, 2017 — A preclinical study from Belgium has shown promising results with the PET tracer florbetapir for targeting amyloid plaque and tau tangles in the brain and potentially evaluating the efficacy of certain Alzheimer's treatments. Findings were published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI achieves policy change for wastage billing

  Dec 18, 2017 — A Medicare administrative contractor in the southern U.S. has agreed to a recommendation from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) to allow providers to bill for wastage when single-dose vials of radiopharmaceuticals are used.

• PET Scan Identifies Which Prostate Cancer Patients Can Benefit from Salvage Radiation Treatment

  Dec 4, 2017 — For prostate cancer patients who have rising levels of PSA (a cancer indicator) even after radical prostatectomy, early treatment makes a difference. In a study featured in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Australian researchers demonstrate that PET scans can identify which of these prostate cancer patients would benefit from salvage radiation treatment (SRT).

• PET/MRI could help diagnose kidney transplant infection

  Nov 16, 2017 — Researchers in Germany are developing a novel PET/MRI approach to determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed an infection in the transplanted tissue, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Can theranostics be the key to completely curing colorectal cancer?

  Nov 7, 2017 — In a preclinical experiment, a new theranostic approach for treating colorectal cancer achieved a 100 percent cure rate with no toxic side effects. The study is featured in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Novel PET tracer could identify bacterial infections

  Oct 15, 2017 — Researchers from Stanford University are reporting promising early results in the development of a novel PET radiopharmaceutical designed to identify most bacterial infections. Their findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• New Targeted Alpha Therapy Protocol for Advanced Prostate Cancer

  Oct 5, 2017 — Therapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but a new treatment protocol reported in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's October issue offers hope.

• New publication calls for greater research and investment in theranostics

  Sep 15, 2017 — Theranostics is the future of precision medicine, according to The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s September 2017 supplemental issue.

• Double targeting ligands to identify and treat prostate cancer

  Sep 7, 2017 — Researchers have demonstrated a new, effective way to precisely identify and localize prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue and reducing side effects.The study is presented in the featured basic article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• FDG-PET/CT foretells melanoma therapy response

  Sep 6, 2017 — FDG-PET/CT scans performed during early treatment for melanoma could help clinicians identify whether the therapy will benefit a particular patient, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Joint document details how to diagnose, treat cardiac sarcoidosis

  Aug 18, 2017 — The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have issued a joint consensus document on the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.

• First Human Application of Novel PET Tracer for Prostate Cancer

  Aug 10, 2017 — In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine, for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

• First Human Application of Novel PET Tracer for Prostate Cancer

  Aug 10, 2017 — In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine, for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

• SNMMI publishes appropriate use criteria for hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain

  Aug 3, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain. This is the third in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging.

• New Imaging Tracer Allows Early Assessment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk

  Aug 1, 2017 — Yale University researchers have developed a way in which medical imaging could potentially be used to assess a patient's rupture risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Delaying surgical treatment can be life-threatening, and this new type of imaging could allow physicians to diagnose disease and better plan its management. The study is presented in the featured article of the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Brain scans may change care for some people with memory loss

  Jul 19, 2017 — Findings, reported Wednesday, mark a first peek at a huge study under way to help determine if Medicare should start paying for specialized PET scans that find a hallmark of Alzheimer's — a sticky plaque called amyloid.For now, in addition to people who qualify for the IDEAS study, the Alzheimer's Association and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging say unusually young dementia patients, younger than 65, also might be candidates for a PET scan. The scans shouldn't be used as a screening tool for people without symptoms or who worry they're at risk. Nor are they for people who can be diagnosed by standard means, or to determine disease severity.

• Neuro-receptor PET could provide an early warning for alcoholic relapse

  Jul 12, 2017 — A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) reveals how brain receptors involved in the compulsion to drink, adapt to alcohol-dependency by reducing their bioavailability, but return to their normal availability after a modest period of detoxification. Receptor availability at the outset of sobriety could also serve as a predictor of long-term success.

• Prostate PET/CT Targets More Cancer, Improves Care

  Jun 20, 2017 — According to new research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), prostate-specific molecular imaging could improve clinical management, especially in patients whose cancer returns.

• Targeted Photodynamic Therapy Shown Highly Effective Against Prostate Cancer

  Jun 20, 2017 — Researchers presenting a preclinical study at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated the efficacy and optimal dose for targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) to treat prostate cancer before and during surgery. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was targeted with an anti-PSMA antibody radiolabeled with the tracer indium-111 and coupled with specialized photosensitizers that cause cell destruction upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR).

• Theranostics drives personalization of neuroendocrine cancer treatment

  Jun 15, 2017 — A team of Canadian researchers presented findings at the annual 2017 SNMMI conference on their work to tailor individualized care for patients suffering neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The research centered around targeted radiation delivery to avoid side effects and organ toxicity.

• Dual-agent PET/MR with time of flight detects more cancer

  Jun 14, 2017 — Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F-sodium fluoride followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

• SNMMI Image of the Year awarded to German researchers

  Jun 14, 2017 — The combined imaging approach, by researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, is designed to produce more accurate detection of PSMA-positive tumor lesions and improve the removal of lymph-node metastases using image-guided surgery, leading to better patient outcomes.

• Dual-agent PET/MR with time of flight detects more cancer

  Jun 14, 2017 — Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• Immuno-PET Shows Promise for Detecting And Treating Pancreatic Tumors

  Jun 13, 2017 — A first-in-human study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the novel human monoclonal antibody HuMab-5B1 with highly specific targeting for the cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, which is expressed on pancreatic tumors and a variety of other malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and tumors of the gastrointestinal system. It holds the promise of better identifying tumors and directing treatment.

• Single dual time-point PET scan identifies dual Alzheimer's biomarkers

  Jun 13, 2017 — A new study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates that a single dual time-point PET scan could identify important biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

• SNMMI: SPECT shows brain changes in football players

  Jun 13, 2017 — SPECT scans show changes in cerebral blood flow in retired professional football players that differ based on which position they played, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The findings were presented on Monday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) meeting.

• PET/optical combo can guide breast-conserving surgery

  Jun 12, 2017 — Researchers are reporting [in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine] early success in the combination of optical and molecular imaging to view FDG-PET images that detect early-stage breast cancer. The technique, known as Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), can assess tumor margins during breast tumor surgery by detecting light emitted from an FDG-PET radiopharmaceutical.

• PET Imaging of Atherosclerosis Reveals Risk of Plaque Rupture

  Jun 12, 2017 — A new study shows that a hybrid molecular imaging system unites three imaging modalities to map the composition of dangerous arterial plaques before they rupture and induce a major cardiac event. The research was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• Concussion researcher nets $25M for CTE program

  Jun 12, 2017 — Noted concussion researcher Dr. Julian Bailes has been awarded new grant funding of up to $25 million for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to an announcement on Sunday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) meeting in Denver.

• Targeted radionuclide treatment for neuroendocrine tumors improves quality of life

  Jun 12, 2017 — Malignant neuroendocrine tumors, commonly called NETs, are easy to miss and associated with discouraging survival rates and poor quality of life. A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) shows how a novel peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is significantly improving patient wellbeing.

• Combining radionuclide therapy with a PARP inhibitor slows neuroendocrine tumor growth

  Jun 12, 2017 — Patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) may experience fewer symptoms and survive longer by undergoing peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) combined with a drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy, say researchers presenting at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• Experts Say Diagnostic Radiation Exposure Is Safe for Kids

  Jun 6, 2017 — There's always that little twinge of fear that comes with the thought of your little one being exposed to radiation during diagnostic imaging like X-rays or CAT scans. But according to an article published in the June 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the long-held belief that low doses of radiation increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis.

• PET/MR shows arterial CO2 as potent vasodilator for cardiac stress testing

  Jun 5, 2017 — Using PET/MR imaging, a new international study featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that increases in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can safely and efficiently widen blood vessels of the heart during stress tests to help determine heart function.

• Hybrid imaging could benefit colorectal cancer patients

  May 10, 2017 — The combination of SPECT/CT and fluorescence imaging could help surgeons differentiate tumor tissue from normal tissue in patients with colorectal cancer, according to a paper published in the May issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• PET/CT Helps Predict Therapy Effectiveness in Pediatric Brain Tumors

  May 2, 2017 — Researchers use PET neuroimaging technology to help determine which children with DIPG brain cancer will benefit best from Avastin.

• SNMMI publishes Appropriate Use Criteria for ventilation/perfusion imaging in pulmonary embolism

  May 1, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism (PE). This is the second in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

• Reduced FDG dose levels for PET/MRI show mixed results

  Apr 6, 2017 — Even though a lower dose of FDG had no significantly adverse effect on lesion detection for most adult cancer patients undergoing a whole-body PET/MRI scan, German researchers recommend that clinicians stay with recommended levels to avoid artifacts, according to a study published online March 30 in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• SNMMI publishes appropriate use criteria for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer

  Apr 6, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for bone scintigraphy (scans to identify bone metastases) in patients with prostate or breast cancer. This is the first in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

• PET identifies cell mutations in NSCLC patients

  Apr 4, 2017 — With the help of FDG-PET and an advanced image analysis technique known as radiomics, researchers have identified genetic cell mutations that can cause non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study published in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• F-18-fluciclovine PET/CT better targets radiotherapy for recurrent prostate cancer

  Mar 8, 2017 — CT, MR and nuclear medicine bone scans are conventionally used to guide and monitor targeted treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, but researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University may have found a better alternative. Preliminary results in a three-year study that found fluorine-18-fluciclovine PET/CT can improve radiotherapy targeting were published in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• New PET tracer shows promise for atherosclerosis

  Mar 2, 2017 — European researchers have developed a PET tracer that has shown the ability to quickly and noninvasively identify life-threatening atherosclerotic plaques, according to a study published in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Radiotargeted therapy with SST2 antagonists could combat multiple human cancers

  Feb 6, 2017 — A study published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates the potential of extending peptide receptor radionuclide therapy targeting the somatostatin receptor to other types of malignancies beyond neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The theranostic pairing of Netspot (Ga-68 DOTATATE, which is FDA-approved) and Lutathera (Lu-177-DOTATATE, currently under FDA review) has already shown that it can significantly improve progression-free survival in patients with somatostatin receptor-positive NETs.

• New PET radiotracer for prostate cancer found to be safe and effective

  Feb 3, 2017 — In the latest issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers have confirmed that a new PET radio tracer for diagnosing primary and metastatic prostate cancer is safe and effective.

• New therapeutic agent shows promise for treating deadly type of prostate cancer

  Jan 9, 2017 — A new therapeutic agent for radioligand therapy called lutetium-177-labeled PSMA-617 is showing promise in a German multi-center study for treating patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The research was recently published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Fear of diagnostic low-dose radiation exposure is overstated, experts assert

  Jan 9, 2017 — In an article published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers assert that exposure to medical radiation does not increase a person's risk of getting cancer. The long-held belief that even low doses of radiation, such as those received in diagnostic imaging, increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis, according to the authors.

• 3-D printed kidney phantoms aid nuclear medicine dosing calibration

  Dec 5, 2016 — In a study reported in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers at the University of Würzburg in Germany focused on kidneys to demonstrate that low-cost 3D printing techniques can be used for quantitative SPECT/CT imaging.

• New PET imaging agent detects metastatic prostate cancer

  Dec 2, 2016 — Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center demonstrated that a new PET imaging agent can detect metastatic prostate cancer in regions that it has previously been difficult to spot. Results from the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of Zr-89-deferrioxamine-IAB2M were published in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Associations call for nuclear cardiology field to optimize radiation dose

  Nov 21, 2016 — The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission's Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging are mandating that radiation dose be optimized for nuclear cardiology studies.

• Florbetaben-PET detects cardiac amyloidosis

  Nov 4, 2016 — Australian researchers have shown the proficiency of PET with the radiotracer F-18 florbetaben to detect abnormal deposits of proteins in the heart in a study published in the November issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• PET Image Series Wins Minnie Award for Best Radiology Image

  Oct 26, 2016 — The Best Radiology Image in this year's Minnies awards, recognizing excellence in radiology, examines two new PET radiotracers, gallium-68 PSMA-11 and gallium-68 RM2, to determine their effectiveness in identifying rising levels of PSA, which signals prostate cancer recurrence. The figure was shown at the 2016 SNMMI Annual Meeting and included in the highlights lecture.

• Optical and PET/CT probes detect early signs of atherosclerosis

  Oct 20, 2016 — Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time the use of a dual optical and PET/CT activity-based probe to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Scan can tell if chemotherapy is effective after one round of treatment

  Sep 27, 2016 — Combined PET and CT scans accurately measure a tumor's energy use and ability to convert glucose to energy, offering doctors a faster method of measuring treatment response for head and neck cancers, researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research report in a study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Using image-guided nuclear intervention to cut cancer cells off at the pass

  Sep 20, 2016 — A novel PET probe images breast cancer's ability to thwart treatment and provides therapy guidance in a study reported in the September issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Novel tracer excels with sentinel lymph nodes

  Aug 18, 2016 — A recent study by researchers at Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of Tc-99m-rituximab, a new SLN radiotracer, that targets the antigen CD20, which is expressed extensively in lymph nodes. The study is published in the August issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• PET/MR may be a 'one-stop' imaging test to detect prostate cancer

  Jul 11, 2016 — University of Michigan researchers recently uncovered that combining PET imaging with multi-parametric MR (mpMR) improves the accuracy of image-guided prostate biopsies. The study was published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Sodium fluoride PET/CT can detect bone metastases in prostate cancer patients

  Jun 8, 2016 — Sodium fluoride (Na-F-18) PET/CT can accurately detect bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a new pilot study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine." Follow-up scans revealed that it's also associated with better clinical outcomes and patient survival.

• Better way to diagnose, manage neuroendocrine tumors

  May 9, 2016 — Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scans are superior to In-111 pentetreotide scans, the current imaging standard in the United States for detecting neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), and could significantly impact treatment management, a new study published in the May issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" reports.

• Fused SPECT, MRI combats cervical cancer

  Apr 15, 2016 — Using SPECT/MRI to image sentinel lymph nodes to assess whether metastases are present could greatly benefit cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes, according to a study published in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Radiopharma dose varies globally for pediatric exams

  Apr 7, 2016 — While there are guidelines for recommended radiopharmaceutical doses for pediatric nuclear medicine patients, there is still wide variability around the world in terms of how those standards are followed, according to a new report published online March 31 in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Oncology PET/MRI shows strengths, but faces hurdles

  Mar 17, 2016 — While the use of PET/MRI is feasible across all types of cancer, it may be tough to show its superiority to PET/CT due to the latter modality's proven track record in detecting and evaluating the disease, according to a review in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Novel nanoprobes for molecular imaging

  Mar 7, 2016 — The Kircher laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York is developing novel nanoprobes for molecular imaging, image-guided therapy, and theranostics. An overview of the research was published in the “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine” (Sept. 2015).

• PET overused for detecting recurrence of lung and esophageal cancers, study finds

  Mar 3, 2016 — A recent study found that PET scans don’t appear to improve outcomes when used to detect recurrence of lung and esophageal cancers in patients without symptoms, and the scans may be overused in these cases. Ryan Niederkohr, MD, president of the SNMMI PET Center of Excellence, is quoted in the article and provides a balanced perspective on the use of PET to detect cancer recurrence.

• Twin study: Genetics and environment affect different regions of the brain

  Mar 2, 2016 — A recent study, reported in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," found evidence that genetic influence on cerebral glucose metabolism played a major role in the bilateral parietal lobes and the left temporal lobe of the human brain, while environmental influences after birth dominated in other regions. Researchers at Osaka University used PET scans to evaluate F-18 FDG uptake in each cerebral lobe for the identical and fraternal twins in the study as well as the controls. By comparing differences, they could estimate the genetic and environmental contributions.

• Predicting liver tumor recurrence with immediate post-ablation FDG PET/CT

  Feb 26, 2016 — Performing PET/CT examinations using the radiotracer F-18-FDG immediately following localized liver tumor ablation is more effective than contrast-enhanced CT for predicting tumor recurrence, according to results of a study published online in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Novel PET tracer could aid detection of tau deposits

  Feb 17, 2016 — In a study published in the February issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” Japanese researchers report early success with a novel PET imaging tracer that enhances the detection of tau deposits in regions of the brain that are associated with the onset of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

• Exploring the value of PET/MR at the SNMMI Mid-Winter Meeting

  Feb 17, 2016 — Combining the high sensitivity of PET for molecular and cellular processes with the functional and anatomical information from MR results in a promising hybrid molecular imaging modality. Dr. Jacob Dubroff of the University of Pennsylvania was interviewed on the value of PET/MR at the SNMMI Mid-Winter Meeting.

• Better way to image metastatic prostate cancer

  Jan 27, 2016 — A recent study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" shows in a prospective, systematic manner that a PET/CT scan, using the radiotracer F-18-DCFBC to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is significantly more effective at detecting metastatic prostate cancer than conventional imaging methods.

• Gadolinium Unnecessary for Most Pediatric Solid Tumors

  Jan 25, 2016 — Gadolinium chelate contrast is not needed when using 18F-FDG PET/MRI to diagnose most solid pediatric malignancies, with the possible exception of focal liver lesions, according to a study published in the "Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• CMS denies reimbursement for sodium fluoride PET scans

  Dec 16, 2015 — CMS said it had determined that use of an NaF-18 PET scan to identify bone metastasis of cancer “is not reasonable and necessary to diagnose or treat an illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.”

• PET/CT, MRI play bigger roles in breast, prostate cancer

  Dec 10, 2015 — With the ability to accurately detect extraskeletal disease, PET/CT and whole-body MRI can change treatment plans for high-risk breast and prostate cancer patients, according to a study published in the December issue of the "Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• FDG-PET predicts survival in Parkinsonian syndrome

  Oct 15, 2015 — FDG-PET strongly predicts overall survival in patients suspected of having early-stage atypical Parkinsonian syndrome (APS), according to a study in the October Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The modality's findings closely matched clinical diagnosis at one-year follow-up.

• A week dedicated to Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging

  Oct 5, 2015 — Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging Week is between 4 and 10 October 2015. Each year, the SNMMI and SNMMI-TS join forces with the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community to gain recognition and support for the field.

• Molecular imaging study reveals improved detection of early recurrent prostate cancer

  Sep 17, 2015 — A recently developed drug was significantly better at detecting recurring prostate cancer in early stages, in research published in the August 2015 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• FDG-PET Helps Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

  Sep 16, 2015 — Images of the brain using FDG-PET can accurately detect Alzheimer's disease in patients presenting with primary progressive aphasia or corticobasal syndrome as focal onset dementias, according to a study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• PET scans better than MR at detecting more aggressive prostate cancer: study

  Aug 21, 2015 — Researchers have discovered that PET imaging with a specific biomarker can detect a fast-growing primary prostate cancer and is better able to differentiate it from benign prostate lesions, a process that they hope could eventually replace the traditional ultrasound-guided 12-core biopsy.

• Algorithm improves PET image quality

  Aug 21, 2015 — PET/CT is a valuable tool in the staging of cancer and monitoring of treatment response in patients. However, the appearance and apparent uptake of small lesions in particular, such as liver metastases and lung nodules, can vary significantly depending on the choice of reconstruction algorithm and parameters.

• New Clinical Applications of Molecular Imaging

  Jul 6, 2015 — Molecular imaging is a broad and dynamic field that encompasses a range of image technologies that allow physicians and researchers to noninvasively visualize biological processes at the cellular and molecular level.

• Hybrid Scanner Using Five Molecular Imaging Techniques Under Development

  Jun 30, 2015 — Scientists are developing a new molecular, preclinical hybrid imaging system to help find new drugs and to advance imaging research.

• SNMMI Meeting Highlights Quality, Safety, and Research Advances

  Jun 30, 2015 — More than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists, and exhibitors gathered at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2015 annual meeting, held June 6-10 in Baltimore.

• New PET Tracer Capable of Accurately Pinpointing Life-Threatening Blood Clots

  Jun 29, 2015 — Researchers have demonstrated that a new molecular imaging technique using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and a new radiotracer Cu-64 FBP8 can accurately pinpoint nearly all thrombi throughout the body of laboratory rats.

• Proposal would dissolve ABNM, fold functions into ABR

  Jun 25, 2015 — In the face of an increasingly difficult job market for nuclear medicine physicians, a proposal has been floated to dissolve the American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM) and fold its functions into the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

• Amyloid Scans Increase Treatment Rate After Inconclusive PET

  Jun 24, 2015 — In patients with indeterminate traditional fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET scans, early amyloid PET could lead to earlier treatment, and the preservation of cognitive function, in up to one-sixth of patients, new research suggests.

• Comparing PET Imaging Options to Predict Cognitive Decline

  Jun 24, 2015 — For patients in the very early stages of mild cognitive impairment, prognosis can be gauged with PET imaging using two different tracers — fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and florbetapir, which measures beta-amyloid pathology — according to new research reported here at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2015 Annual Meeting.

• Q&A with Dr. Hossein Jadvar, president of SNMMI

  Jun 22, 2015 — Three years ago, the Society of Nuclear Medicine grew. Or at least their name did. It was three years ago that the society’s membership voted to add molecular imaging to the name, to create the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging or SNMMI.

• New Neurochemical Changes Imaged in Parkinson's Disease

  Jun 17, 2015 — In patients with Parkinson's disease, neurochemical changes seen on molecular imaging could open the door to better treatment of motor dysfunction, new research shows.

• Molecular MRI Aims at Component of Multiple Cancers

  Jun 16, 2015 — The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) biomarker is the bullseye for three new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents that bind to the protein in not only prostate cancer, but a range of tumor types.

• New Insights into the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Dementia Using PET Presented at SNMMI 2015

  Jun 16, 2015 — New research into plaque types and deposition patterns in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia has been presented at annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI; Baltimore, MD, USA) during June 6–10, 2015.

• Industry Analysis - Four guys discuss molecular imaging

  Jun 15, 2015 — At the end of April, I had dinner with three people at Nino’s Restaurant in New York City. Nino’s is popular with celebrities and the owner, Nino Selimaj, is friends with many of them. Personally, I felt like I was among celebrities from our industry, as I shared a table with three people deeply grounded in molecular imaging.

• Two-Step Deposition of Amyloid Plaque in Parkinson's Disease

  Jun 11, 2015 — In patients with Parkinson's disease, the development of amyloid plaque might be a two-step process — cortical deposits followed by striatal deposits — new research suggests.

• Experimental Agent Pins Elusive Primary Neuroendocrine Tumor

  Jun 11, 2015 — An investigative radiotracer used to image neuroendocrine cancer patients who have metastatic tumors can successfully locate their previously elusive primary disease and change clinical management, according to a new study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2015 Annual Meeting here.

• Scanning for cardiac amyloid could help predict heart attacks

  Jun 11, 2015 — While amyloid imaging is typically discussed with regard to diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, a team of French researchers, presenting at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2015 annual meeting, have found that amyloid scans of the heart can predict major cardiac events.

• Whole-Body Scans Compare Primary & Met in Lung Cancer

  Jun 10, 2015 — By shuttling the imaging bed backward and forward during positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, it is possible to obtain whole-body dynamic images of both primary tumors and metastases in lung cancer patients.

• SNMMI: Diagnosing Alzheimer's in the cloud

  Jun 9, 2015 — Dr. Victor Villemagne, a leading molecular imaging researcher at Austin Health, Heidelberg in Victoria, Australia, presented findings that might have been just as at home at HIMSS as they were at SNMMI: a cloud-based platform to interpret amyloid PET scans.

• Imaging system combines five molecular imaging techniques

  Jun 9, 2015 — Scientists at Technical University Munich (Germany) have developed a system that combines five molecular imaging techniques—including luminescence, fluorescence, and optical imaging—for multimodal imaging of both tissue models and live subjects.

• SNMMI: FDOPA-PET/MRI monitors pediatric brain tumors

  Jun 9, 2015 — Clinicians may soon be able to add PET/MRI with F-18 fluorodopa (FDOPA) to their imaging arsenal to evaluate the efficacy of the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab for pediatric brain tumors, according to a study presented on Monday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.

• Molecular Heart Imaging Could Spot Cardiac Amyloidosis

  Jun 9, 2015 — Myocardial scintigraphy, which is molecular imaging of the heart, can be used to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with transthyretin-type amyloidosis, according to results from a new study.

• SNMMI: PET/CT predicts survival in head and neck cancer

  Jun 8, 2015 — FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT do a good job in predicting the chances of recurrence and survival for patients with head and neck cancer within two years of completing chemotherapy treatment, according to a study presented Sunday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.

• New PET Imaging Technique May Detect Cancer More Easily

  Jun 8, 2015 — Researchers say a new PET imaging system provides doctors with a “whole body map” to detect cancerous tumors. A breakthrough in imaging techniques could significantly improve early detection and care for people with cancer, especially those with multiple tumors. The research will be announced today at the 2015 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in Baltimore, Maryland.

• PET reveals inflammatory cycle in the brain

  Jun 8, 2015 — Neuroinflammation caused by a reactive immune system could be tripping off the neurodegeneration seen in certain dementias, multiple sclerosis, and other deadly diseases of the nervous system. A novel molecular imaging technique could be the key to understanding how best to treat these and other devastating diseases, according to a recent study presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• SNMMI: PET prostate image lands Image of the Year honors

  Jun 8, 2015 — Research using a PET radiotracer for prostate cancer that can be labeled with different radioisotopes for diagnostic or therapeutic use won Image of the Year honors at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.

• Theranostic drug personalizes prostate cancer imaging and therapy

  Jun 8, 2015 — A novel radionuclide drug tackles the challenge of prostate cancer imaging and takes a turn as a cancer-killing therapy for tumors in and out of the prostate, according to research presented during the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• Cannabis Harms Brain, Imaging Shows

  Jun 8, 2015 — The heavy, long-term use of cannabis is associated with negative changes in parts of the brain not previously implicated, and is linked to deficits in learning and memory, new research suggests.

• SNMMI: PET/CT predicts survival in head and neck cancer

  Jun 8, 2015 — FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT do a good job in predicting the chances of recurrence and survival for patients with head and neck cancer within two years of completing chemotherapy treatment, according to a study presented on Sunday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.

• Follow-Up FDG PET/CT May Help Tailor Treatment for NHL

  Jun 8, 2015 — With a high sensitivity for detecting disease recurrence, follow-up imaging using PET/CT may help to more successfully guide the management of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who are at risk for disease recurrence, according to the results of a study presented during the 2015 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Annual Meeting (abstract 599). - See more at: http://www.cancernetwork.com/hematologic-malignancies/follow-fdg-petct-may-help-tailor-treatment-nhl#sthash.yv1X09dD.dpuf

• David W. Townsend receives SNMMI 2015 Aebersold Award for Nuclear Medicine Achievement

  Jun 7, 2015 — David W. Townsend, PhD, professor in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at the National University Hospital of Singapore and director of the A*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre in Singapore, has been named this year's recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Townsend was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2015 Annual Meeting, held June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

• Michael E. Phelps, Ph.D., receives SNMMI 2015 Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award

  Jun 7, 2015 — Michael E. Phelps, PhD, the Norton Simon professor and chair of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, has been named this year's recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. Phelps was presented the award by SNMMI—an international scientific and medical organization—during its 2015 Annual Meeting, June 6-10 in Baltimore, Md.

• FDG-PET may guide antibiotic therapy in vascular graft infections

  May 21, 2015 — In a prospective cohort study of 25 patients with prosthetic vascular graft infections treated with systemic antibiotics, the use of FDG-PET/CT to monitor metabolic activity within the graft was effective in determining infection status and was used to alter the course of antibiotic therapy in all patients. The study was reported in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Researchers Report a Novel Imaging Tool to Assess Prostate Cancer Recurrence

  May 8, 2015 — A study recently published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" revealed a new tool based on imaging to assess prostate cancer recurrence in patients after radical prostatectomy. The study was led by researchers at the Technische Universität München in Germany and is entitled “Evaluation of Hybrid 68Ga-PSMA Ligand PET/CT in 248 Patients with Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy.”

• Nuclear medicine scan could identify who might benefit from aromatase inhibitor treatment

  May 7, 2015 — A new, noninvasive nuclear medicine test can be used to determine whether aromatase inhibitor treatment will be effective for specific cancer patients, according to a recent study reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The research shows that a PET scan with the ligand C-11-vorozole reliably detects aromatase in all body organs -- demonstrating the value of its future use to pre-determine the effectiveness of the treatment for breast, ovarian, endometrial and lung cancer patients.

• Novel 68Ga-PSMA-ligand Improves PET/CT Detection of Recurrent Prostate Cancer

  May 6, 2015 — Dr. Eiber: The background of the study is the investigation of a novel 68Ga-PSMA ligand using PET/CT in the workup of patients with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Hereby, we found substantial higher detection rate compared to other methods. In total 222 (89.5%) patients showed pathological findings in 68Ga-PSMA-ligand PET/CT. Stratified by PSA-level the detection rates were 96.8%,93.0%,72.7% and 57.9% of =2,1-<2, 0.5-<1 and 0.2-<0.5ng/mL, respectively.

• The multi-pronged approach to reducing MPI dose

  Apr 30, 2015 — The use of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has spiked over the past four decades and along with it individual patient dose. A comprehensive effort to reduce that dose could reduce unnecessary procedures and reduce the risk of downstream cancers, according to a meta-analysis published in the April issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• A Better Way to Diagnose and Treat Cancer

  Apr 27, 2015 — When actor Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010, he went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy — “the seven circles of hell,” as he described it, a period marked by an inability to swallow, gum pain, loss of taste, dental pain. Had he been diagnosed just a year later, Douglas might have benefited from molecular imaging, an emerging technology that allows doctors to precisely target a patient’s specific cancer cells.

• Amyloid Imaging Task Force revamps appropriate use criteria

  Jun 19, 2013