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SNMMI News

• SNMMI—Highlights from a Year Full of Accomplishments

  Jun 20, 2018 — As we approach the SNMMI Annual Meeting, we are ending a productive and exciting year! SNMMI and SNMMI-TS moved forward on many key issues and activities that affect imaging research and practice, with the ultimate goal of delivering the best possible care to patients. Take a few minutes to read this brief Year in Review with 20 highlights of SNMMI and SNMMI-TS accomplishments.

• The AMA's RUC and Why It Is Important to You

  Jun 12, 2018 — The American Medical Association (AMA) has an expert panel called the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which advocates for accurate valuation of all physician services. If you receive a request from SNMMI to participate in an AMA RUC survey, it is imperative that you participate so your voice can be heard.

• WMIS, ACR and SNMMI Urge CMS to Reopen Reconsideration for NaF PET

  Jun 7, 2018 — Medicare patients with metastatic cancers may be negatively impacted by the recent decision of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to decline to provide coverage for 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (NaF PET) imaging.

• New Nuclear Medicine Method Shows Promise for Better Detection of Neuroendocrine Tumors

  Jun 6, 2018 — Researchers have shown that a new nuclear medicine procedure could safely and more effectively detect cancerous gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors than current methods. The study is featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Novel PET Imaging Noninvasively Pinpoints Colitis Inflammation Sites

  Jun 4, 2018 — A novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method shows promise for noninvasively pinpointing sites of inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), study is featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• This Month in JNM

  Jun 1, 2018 — The June 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about small proteins for radionuclide imaging; novel PET imaging methods, including for pinpointing sites of inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease and for more effectively identifying GEP-NETs; and more!

• SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting: Imaging the Future of Human Health

  May 31, 2018 — The SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA, June 23–26. It will bring together physicians, technologists, pharmacists and scientists from around the globe to share research, network, and collaborate on “Imaging the Future of Human Health.”

• Comments Sent to FDA Regarding Amino Acids Needed During Lu-177 DOTATATE Therapy

  May 29, 2018 — SNMMI, the Mayo Clinic, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have jointly filed comments with the FDA with recommendations for regulatory changes that would make it easier for patients with GEP-NETs to obtain arginine and lysine--amino acids that can mitigate side effects of Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy.

• Session on Training for Nuclear Medicine Physicians to be Offered at SNMMI Annual Meeting

  May 22, 2018 — The training path for nuclear medicine physicians is an important and ongoing topic of discussion for the field. To advance this discussion, Satoshi Minoshima, MD, and Richard L. Wahl, MD, FACNM, have developed a continuing education session for the 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (June 23-26), which will also be available through the Virtual Meeting.

• The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Adds Immediate Open Access Option

  May 21, 2018 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) now provides an Immediate Open Access (IOA) publication option to accommodate authors who need to comply with specific funding mandates.

• SNMMI Advocates for Improved Reimbursement at CMS Public Meeting

  May 21, 2018 — SNMMI recently advocated on behalf of members and their patients at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) workgroup public meeting. Lu-177-dotatate, Ga-68-dotatate, and Fl-18-fluciclovine are all delivered by pharmacies in per-study doses, not per-unit doses; SNMMI requested that CMS modify the coding descriptors for payment accordingly.

• SNMMI Collaborates with Industry to Advance the Field of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

  May 17, 2018 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Value Initiative Industry Alliance brings members of the corporate community to the table as key players in building the future of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and demonstrating to the medical community, regulators, patients and the public their crucial role in delivering the highest quality of care.

• SNMMI TV Returns to the 2018 Annual Meeting

  May 14, 2018 — The 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting will again include SNMMI TV programs on each day of the conference covering the previous day's events. The program will feature interviews of key leaders and researchers, interwoven with in-depth reports on featured institutions, session coverage, and attendee surveys.

• Physicians: Your Input Needed on PET/CT Survey

  May 8, 2018 — Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School are surveying practicing nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists to determine when and why PET/CTs are performed for inpatients. The survey is brief and anonymous. Please participate now!

• FDA Issues Updated Guidance on Clinical Trial Imaging Standards

  May 4, 2018 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an updated guidance for the standardization of imaging data collected and managed as part of clinical trials. While considerable standardization already exists in clinical imaging, the new guidance recommends additional trial-specific imaging process standards.

• PET Imaging Agent Could Provide Early Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

  May 3, 2018 — A novel PET tracer developed by Korean researchers can visualize joint inflammation and could provide early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, a common autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of joints and can lead to deformity and dysfunction. The study is reported in the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s May issue.

• Novel Theranostic Approach for Treating Pancreatic Cancer Patients Shows Promise

  May 1, 2018 — German researchers have developed a novel diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) procedure for patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a deadly cancer with an extremely poor prognosis (five-year survival rate of less than 5 percent) and limited treatment options. The study is featured in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI Annual Meeting: Plenary Speakers Announced

  May 1, 2018 — Speakers have been announced for the plenary sessions of the 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting, to be held June 23–26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• This Month in JNM

  May 1, 2018 — The May 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about a novel theranostic approach for treating pancreatic cancer, a PET imaging agent for early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, selecting the right PET radiotracer for prostate cancer, recent developments in diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, and more!

• DaT SPECT Video Shows Patients What to Expect

  Apr 18, 2018 — Dopamine transporter (DaT) imaging, with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), is used to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. To help patients who are scheduled for a DaT SPECT procedure, SNMMI’s Brain Imaging Outreach Working Group created a video that takes the patient through what happens at each step.

• PET Tracer Could Help Predict Treatment Effectiveness for Depression

  Apr 6, 2018 — A PET imaging agent could show, ahead of time, whether a specific treatment is likely to be effective for major depressive disorder—a debilitating condition that affects more than 14 million Americans. No such marker is currently available in clinical psychiatry. The study is featured in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Novel PET Imaging Agent Could Help Guide Therapy for Brain Diseases

  Apr 2, 2018 — Researchers have developed a new PET imaging agent that could help guide and assess treatments for people with various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. The agent targets receptors in nerve cells in the brain that are involved in learning and memory. The study is featured in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• This Month in JNM

  Apr 1, 2018 — The April 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about new PET tracers—one that could help guide therapy for brain diseases and another that could help predict treatment effectiveness for depression, PET/CT in local ablative therapies, challenges in nuclear endocrinology and more!

• Happy Birthday RAI!

  Mar 31, 2018 — On this day in 1941, Dr. Saul Hertz administered the very first radioactive iodine therapy to a patient with Graves' Disease. This pivotal treatment was the index case for what we today know as radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism, and it validated the concept that is now known as theranostics.

• Partial Relief for High-Value Radiopharmaceuticals in Signed Budget Bill

  Mar 23, 2018 — Buried in the Budget Bill that was just signed into law is a provision that provides some high-value radiopharmaceuticals partial and temporary relief. It also mandates that the Government Accountability Office study the problems with reimbursement for these drugs and report back to Congress.

• Societies Collaborate to Address Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

  Mar 22, 2018 — Representatives of SNMMI, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the European Thyroid Association (ETA) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) met at the Multilateral Conference on Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and began working collaboratively on issues related to the care of patients with thyroid cancer, with particular focus on radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.

• SNMMI Seeks Expanded Coverage for NaF PET

  Mar 21, 2018 — SNMMI, the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS), and the American College of Radiology (ACR) are recommending that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reconsider the current restrictive coverage policy for NaF PET imaging to identify bone metastases, which can inform treatment strategy.

• Patient Fly-In for Capitol Hill Advocacy: Bill to Reclassify Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals as Drugs

  Mar 15, 2018 — Patients advocates with a wide range of health conditions—including neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma and cancers of the lung, breast, and prostate—flew into Washington, DC, for March 14 meetings on Capitol Hill to urge support for a bill that would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reclassify diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals as drugs. Patients rely on the radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosing and monitoring their conditions, as well as guiding therapy.

• Technologists: The JNMT Twitter Club Launches in April!

  Mar 14, 2018 — Starting in April, at least one scientific article in each issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT) will be selected for discussion by the new JNMT Twitter Club (@JNMTClub). Participants read the article before the club meets, then discusses it via Twitter, using #JNMTclub in each tweet. (1 CE hour can be earned via the short post-exam.)

• Novel PET Imaging Agent Targets Copper in Tumors, Allowing Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Recurrence

  Mar 5, 2018 — An Italian study featured in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that a novel nuclear medicine imaging agent targeting copper accumulation in tumors can detect prostate cancer recurrence early in patients with biochemical relapse (rising prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level).

• JNMT: New Cover, New Features

  Mar 5, 2018 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT) has a new cover design and new features under the leadership Kathy Thomas, MHA, CNMT, whose five-year term as editor began in January.

• Researchers Develop New Approach That Uses a Single PET Scan to Personalize Cancer Treatment

  Mar 1, 2018 — Researchers have developed a same-day, noninvasive PET-based imaging approach to assess PD-L1 positive tumors, which could help guide cancer treatment decisions and assess treatment response. The study is presented in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s March issue.

• This Month in JNM

  Mar 1, 2018 — The March 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about a PET imaging agent that assesses PD-L1-positive tumors and another that targets copper in prostate cancer tumors, patient management after NaF PET, dual-targeted molecular imaging and more!

• What’s New at the 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting

  Feb 23, 2018 — SNMMI’s 2018 Annual Meeting—the premier educational, scientific and networking event for the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community—will be held in Philadelphia, PA, June 23–26. There's much that's new this year, including a number of features added in response to member feedback: a condensed 4-day meeting, nuts-and-bolts sessions, interactive training showcases in the Exhibit Hall and more! We also welcome China as the Highlight Country!

• Molecular Imaging Journal: SNMMI Members Receive 50% Discount on APC

  Feb 22, 2018 — The article processing charge (APC) for articles accepted for publication in Molecular Imaging (MIX) is discounted 50% for SNMMI members.

• SNMMI and ASNC Issue Joint Guidelines for Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow Using PET

  Feb 13, 2018 — SNMMI's Cardiovascular Council and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) have issued the joint position paper, Clinical Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow Using PET, which was jointly published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology and The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI To Monitor Current Research Looking at Potential Job-Related Health Risks to Technologists

  Feb 6, 2018 — According to a study published in the February issue of Radiology, imaging specialists who have performed nuclear medicine exams appear to be at higher risk of developing cataracts. SNMMI and SNMMI-TS place the highest importance on the safety of nuclear medicine professionals and are monitoring this issue, as well as any other potential nuclear medicine-related health risks to professionals in the field.

• PSMA PET/CT Clearly Differentiates Prostate Cancer from Benign Tissue

  Feb 5, 2018 — Using nuclear medicine, German researchers have found a way to accurately differentiate cancerous tissue from healthy tissue in prostate cancer patients. The research is highlighted in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• PSMA PET/CT Visualizes Prostate Cancer Recurrence Early, Impacts Radiation Therapy

  Feb 1, 2018 — A nuclear medicine scan may locate prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy early after disease recurrence and could help guide salvage radiotherapy, according to new research from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The study, which utilizes PET/CT with gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA-11), is documented in the featured article in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• This Month in JNM

  Feb 1, 2018 — The February 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available.

• SNMMI and SNMMI-TS Announce 2018 Leadership Academy Graduates

  Jan 31, 2018 — During SNMMI’s Mid-Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida, both SNMMI and SNMMI-TS held leadership academies. These academies are building a cadre of physicians, scientists and technologists with strong leadership abilities who are taking on active roles in the society at the chapter and national levels, as well as within the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community. Congratulations to all the new graduates!

• SNMMI-TS State Advocacy Update

  Jan 25, 2018 — SNMMI has been working with state Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) representatives to promote licensure and the new Nuclear Medicine Technologist Scope of Practice and Performance Standards. Read about recent successes and current efforts.

• Temporary Mo-99 Shortfall Being Addressed

  Jan 23, 2018 — With the temporary stoppage of Mo-99 production at South Africa’s NTP Radioisotopes and the unexpected shutdown of Australia’s OPAL reactor, the Association of Imaging Producers & Equipment Suppliers (AIPES) expects there could be an approximately 15-percent shortfall in Mo-99 to meet world demand over the next one-to-two weeks. The good news is that safeguards in place for the Mo-99 supply pipeline are working as anticipated to cover just such unexpected stoppages.

• Update on Procedure Standards

  Jan 18, 2018 — The SNMMI Committee on Procedure Standards, chaired by Dominique Delbeke, MD, PhD, FSNMMI, is working with its counterpart at EANM and other partner organizations to update joint procedure standards and develop guidelines for new procedures.

• Jeri Francoeur Joins SNMMI Patient Advocacy Advisory Board as Susan G. Komen Foundation Representative

  Jan 16, 2018 — Jeri Francoeur has joined the SNMMI's Patient Advocacy Advisory Board, representing the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A breast cancer survivor who also lost a close friend to the disease, she is a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and funding, as well as patient education on treatment options.

• Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology to Be Covered by Clarivate Analytics

  Jan 11, 2018 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT) has been selected by Clarivate Analytics for inclusion in its Emerging Sources Citation Index. This coverage begins with 2017.

• Kathy Thomas Named Editor of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology

  Jan 9, 2018 — Kathy Thomas, MHA, CNMT, PET, FSNMMI-TS, is the new editor of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT), which is published by the technologist section of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). She has taken over leadership of JNMT from Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, and her five-year term begins January 2018.

• Novel PET Tracer Clearly Identifies and Tracks Bacterial Infection in Lungs

  Jan 8, 2018 — Researchers at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, have demonstrated that a new radiotracer, F-18-FDS, can identify and track bacterial infection in lungs better than current imaging methods and is able to differentiate bacterial infection from inflammation. The study is the featured basic science article in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI Publishes Appropriate Use Criteria for Somatostatin Receptor PET Imaging

  Jan 4, 2018 — SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for somatostatin receptor PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), addressing several clinical scenarios for diagnosing NETs. This AUC is part of a new series developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging.

• Total-Body PET: Maximizing Sensitivity for Clinical Research and Patient Care

  Jan 3, 2018 — The new total-body PET/CT scanner could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of disease through analysis of better imaging data from the whole body. In The Journal of Nuclear Medicine featured January article, scientists at the University of California, Davis, outline the development and benefits of this innovative diagnostic tool and explain how maximizing PET sensitivity will advance clinical research and patient care.

• This Month in JNM

  Jan 2, 2018 — The January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available.

• Nuclear Medicine Working Group Receives Image Gently Alliance 2017 Butterfly Award

  Dec 21, 2017 — Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, FSNMMI, and S. Ted Treves, MD, accepted the 2017 Butterfly Award on behalf of the Image Gently Nuclear Medicine Working Group at the recent Image Gently Alliance meeting. Congratulations to the Nuclear Medicine Working Group for its efforts to improve the radionuclide imaging of children through the right dose, given the right way to the right patient at the right time!

• SNMMI Solves Billing Problem in Much of South

  Dec 15, 2017 — Palmetto GBA, a Medicare administrative contractor, has agreed to make billing-policy changes that SNMMI requested regarding payment for wastage from single-dose vials of radiopharmaceuticals. These changes affect North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia now, and will apply to the states that Palmetto will take over in 2018 (Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee).

• Nuclear Medicine Community Calls for Funding of Domestic Mo-99 Production

  Dec 11, 2017 — SNMMI and other societies and organizations in the nuclear medicine community have sent joint letters to the U.S. Senate and House chairs and ranking members of the respective Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development of the Committees on Appropriations, voicing support for $67.4 million to secure a sufficient domestic supply of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).

• PET Tracer Gauges Effectiveness of Promising Alzheimer’s Treatment

  Dec 6, 2017 — In the December featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Belgian researchers report on the first large-scale longitudinal imaging study to evaluate BACE1 inhibition with micro-PET in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. PET imaging has been established as an excellent identifier of the amyloid plaque and tau tangles that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. Now it is proving to be an effective way to gauge treatment effectiveness.

• 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.

• Novel Nuclear Medicine Test Can Identify Kidney Transplant Infection

  Nov 8, 2017 — German scientists have developed a novel nuclear medicine test that can determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed infection in the transplanted tissue. The study, which utilizes positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is presented in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• FDG PET Shows Tumor DNA Levels in Blood Are Linked to NSCLC Aggressiveness

  Nov 6, 2017 — Insights derived from FDG PET could improve treatment selection for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The study is presented in the featured clinical investigation article of the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI’s 2016 Annual Report Receives MARCOM Platinum Award

  Nov 3, 2017 — "SNMMI: The Integral Thread – 2016 Annual Report" has received a MARCOM Platinum Award for excellence in communications and marketing. This recognition highlights the report’s successful representation of the innovative and collaborative nuclear medicine and molecular imaging research and clinical application process for which SNMMI is truly an integral thread.

• New System for Treating Colorectal Cancer Can Lead to Complete Cure

  Nov 2, 2017 — Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston have developed a new, three-step system that uses nuclear medicine to target and eliminate colorectal cancer. In this study with a mouse model, researchers achieved a 100-percent cure rate—without any treatment-related toxic effects. The study is reported in the November featured article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• The Lancet Oncology Commission Issues Report on Future Research Priorities

  Nov 1, 2017 — A number of SNMMI members served as commissioners and contributed to development of the report on Future Research Priorities in the USA, which sets out how to accelerate cancer research and care in order to reach the goals of the U.S. Cancer Moonshot initiative.

• This Month in JNM

  Nov 1, 2017 — The November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available.

• SNMMI Publishes Appropriate Use Criteria for FDG PET/CT in Restaging and Treatment Response Assessment of Malignant Disease

  Oct 24, 2017 — SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for FDG PET/CT in restaging and treatment response assessment of malignant disease. As cancer patients move through therapy, FDG PET/CT has proven an effective tool for assessing treatment response and updating the stage of malignancy. This AUC aims to improve utilization and guide providers across specialties in its use.

• International Atomic Energy Agency and SNMMI Sign Cooperative Agreement

  Oct 23, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have established practical arrangements to cooperate on extending the reach of educational materials for nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The agreement was signed at the 30th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in Vienna, Austria, on October 23, 2017.

• Questions on Coding and Reimbursement? Visit the SNMMI Coding Corner!

  Oct 20, 2017 — SNMMI’s Coding Corner provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive source for nuclear medicine coding and reimbursement information on the web. In addition, the Coding and Reimbursement Q&A Section contains more than 120 questions and answers related to cardiology; NETS; oncology; PET, PET/CT and PET/MRI; pharmaceuticals and more. There’s also the option to ask new questions.

• Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, Receives Southeastern Chapter’s Marshall Brucer Award

  Oct 11, 2017 — The Southeastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SECSNMMI) presented Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, with the Marshall Brucer Award, the highest honor that the chapter can bestow upon a member, during the SECSNMMI Annual Meeting, held October 6-8, 2017, in Birmingham, Alabama.

• SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy Receives AAMSE Profiles of Excellence Award

  Oct 10, 2017 — The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy has received the American Association of Medical Society Executives’ (AAMSE) 2017 Profiles of Excellence Award in the Leadership Category. The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is a two-day course that hones the leadership and organizational skills of participants, helping them become more engaged and effective leaders at the regional and national levels.

• New for Technologists! Radiation Safety+ Review and Essentials

  Oct 10, 2017 — SNMMI’s new Radiation Safety+ Review and Essentials program provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of radiation safety for nuclear medicine technologists preparing to take the NMTCB Radiation Safety Exam.

• Novel PET Tracer Identifies Most Bacterial Infections

  Oct 5, 2017 — Stanford University medical scientists have developed a novel imaging agent that could be used to identify most bacterial infections. The study is the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue.

• What’s Next for Nuclear Medicine Training?

  Oct 4, 2017 — The “Hot Topic” article in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM), titled Nuclear Medicine Training: What Now?, examines the role of nuclear medicine in the era of precision medicine and the need for training to evolve with the practice. An associated editorial presents an alternative view: “Is 16 Months of Specialized Nuclear Medicine Training Enough for Best Patient Care?” The two perspectives kick off a discussion that will unfold in coming issues of JNM.

• New Targeted Alpha Therapy Protocol for Advanced Prostate Cancer

  Oct 3, 2017 — Therapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, but a new treatment protocol offers hope. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue, German researchers report on a new dosing regimen for actinium-225-labeled targeted alpha therapy of patients with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive tumors. The protocol balances treatment response with toxicity concerns to provide the most effective therapy with the least side effects.

• This Month in JNM

  Oct 2, 2017 — The October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available.

• Thoughts and Prayers for All Affected by Recent Natural Disasters

  Sep 27, 2017 — To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the earthquakes in Mexico, we send our thoughts and prayers. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas and has made a donation to relief efforts.

• New Book Available on Abdominal Imaging

  Sep 14, 2017 — "Abdominal Imaging 2017: Quality, Safety, & Dose Optimization" is the second installment in a series of books dedicated to a single nuclear medicine procedure or imaging category. The book is put out by the SNMMI-TS Publications Committee, and chapters cover imaging rationale, indications, contraindications, patient preparation and education, imaging procedure, processing, interpretation including normal and abnormal results, sensitivity/specificity/accuracy, and artifacts.

• Theranostics: Paintball Targeting of Cancer Cells Combined with Precision Therapy

  Sep 13, 2017 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s September supplement shines a spotlight on theranostics and its increasingly important role in delivering precision medicine. Theranostics refers to the combination of a predictive biomarker, identified through diagnostic imaging using radiolabeled ligands, with precise therapy targeted on the now-marked cancer cells. The cancer cells are destroyed, while healthy cells are unharmed.

• September JNM Supplement Highlights Theranostics

  Sep 8, 2017 — See what articles are in the The Journal of Nuclear Medicine September Supplement on Clinical and Translational Theranostics.

• 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 Predicts Melanoma Patients’ Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

  Sep 5, 2017 — Research highlighted in the featured article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that combined PET/CT scanning early in the treatment of advanced melanoma could identify whether immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy will benefit a particular patient. As the therapy has potentially serious side-effects, early determination of ineffectiveness could avert unnecessary risk exposure and provide the option of a different treatment.

• Thoughts and Prayers for All Affected by Hurricane Harvey

  Aug 29, 2017 — To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricane Harvey, we send our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply saddened by the flooding, devastation, and loss of life this storm has wrought. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas of southeast Texas and Louisiana and will be making a donation to relief efforts.

• SNMMI 2017-2019 Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship Recipients Announced

  Aug 24, 2017 — SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2018-2020 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2018.

• Registration for WFNMB 2018 is now open!

  Aug 22, 2017 — Registration is now open for the 12th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB), which will be held April 20-24, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. Early-bird rates apply until January 19, 2018.

• 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 7, 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 (11C-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 — 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. The other recently released AUC are for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer and for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism.

• SNMMI Honors Outstanding Contributors at 2017 Annual Meeting

  Aug 2, 2017 — SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

• 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.

• SNMMI Receives ACCME Reaccreditation for Continuing Medical Education Programs

  Jul 31, 2017 — SNMMI's Continuing Education Program for physicians has received reaccreditation for four years from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), based on its self-study report, evidence of performance-in-practice and the accreditation interview. Continuing education (CE) offerings must meet both public and professional needs, which are continuously changing in response to scientific and healthcare-delivery changes.

• SNMMI Technologist Section Announces 2017 Award Winners

  Jul 20, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, held June 10-14. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

• Radiotherapy Dose Increase to PET/CT-Identified Hypoxic NSCLC Lesions Shows Need for New Approaches

  Jul 10, 2017 — Fluorine-18-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) is a PET radiotracer that is widely used to diagnose hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to tissue), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with FMISO uptake are known to face a poor prognosis. A multicenter French Phase II study featured in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine investigated whether a selective radiotherapy dose increase to tumor areas with significant FMISO uptake in NSCLC patients could improve outcomes.

• Novel PET Tracer Detects Small Blood Clots

  Jul 6, 2017 — Blood clots in veins and arteries can lead to heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s July 2017 issue, German researchers show that targeting GPIIb/IIIa receptors, the key receptor involved in platelet clumping, with a fluorine-18 labeled ligand is a promising approach for diagnostic imaging.

• The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Impact Factor Increases

  Jun 20, 2017 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM)—the flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)—has again been ranked among the top medical imaging journals worldwide, according to new data released in the 2016 Journal Citation Reports© published by Thomson Reuters. JNM’s impact factor went up from 5.849 (2015) to 6.646 (2016).

• In Memoriam: Nuclear Medicine Pioneer David E. Kuhl, MD

  Jun 19, 2017 — David E. Kuhl, MD, a nuclear medicine pioneer who developed early prototypes of what was to become positron emission tomography (PET), died in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on May 28, 2017, at the age of 87.

• SNMMI’s 64th Annual Meeting Highlights Growing Importance of Theranostics and Showcases New Research

  Jun 15, 2017 — More than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered for SNMMI’s 2017 Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The meeting shined a spotlight on theranostics, featured Germany as the highlight country, showcased exciting new research results, introduced the new Value Initiative, announced the SNMMI Image of the Year, and more!

• 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).

• Prostate PET/CT Targets More Cancer and Improves Patient Care

  Jun 14, 2017 — An estimated one in seven American men will be affected by prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate-specific molecular imaging gives these men a fighting chance, especially if their cancer returns, according to research revealed at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• SNMMI Image of the Year: PET and Optical Imaging of Dual-Labeled PSMA Inhibitors Shows Promise for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

  Jun 14, 2017 — In the battle against metastatic prostate cancer, the removal of lymph node metastases using image-guided surgery may have a high clinical impact on outcomes. Researchers at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated preclinically that dual-labeled PSMA-inhibitors based on PSMA-11 enhance preoperative staging, using PET/CT followed by fluorescence-guided surgery. The combined approach results in more accurate detection of PSMA-positive tumor lesions.

• SNMMI Announces Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, as President-Elect of Technologist Section During 2017 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2017 — Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, program director and assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions Clinical and Diagnostics Sciences Department for the Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology Program and interim program director of the Master of Science in Health Physics Program in Birmingham, Alabama, has been elected as the 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of SNMMI-TS.

• SNMMI Announces Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, as President of Technologist Section During 2017 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2017 — Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

• 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.

• SNMMI and SNMMI-TS Welcome New Officers for 2017-18

  Jun 13, 2017 — At the 2017 SNMMI Annual Meeting in Denver, the SNMMI and SNMMI-TS welcomed new officers for the coming year.

• Single Dual Time-Point PET Scan Identifies Dual Alzheimer’s Biomarkers

  Jun 13, 2017 — Identifying Alzheimer's disease before major symptoms arise is critical to preserving brain function and helping patients maintain quality of life. 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.

• SNMMI Elects Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, as President During 2017 Annual Meeting

  Jun 12, 2017 — Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

• 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).

• At Annual Meeting, SNMMI Recognizes New Fellows for Distinguished Service

  Jun 12, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging recognized seven new SNMMI Fellows during a Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2017Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The SNMMI Fellowship was established last year to recognize distinguished service to the society as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

• SNMMI Elects Vasken Dilsizian, MD, as Vice President–Elect During 2017 Annual Meeting

  Jun 12, 2017 — Vasken Dilsizian, MD, professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, has assumed office as 2017-18 vice president–elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

• SNMMI Elects Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, as President-Elect During 2017 Annual Meeting

  Jun 12, 2017 — Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

• Personalized PRRT Improves Radiation Delivery to Neuroendocrine Tumors

  Jun 12, 2017 — Neuroendocrine cancer is exceedingly difficult to manage and unlikely to be cured, but researchers intend to slow progression of these tumors and aid survival by personalizing patient dose of peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• 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.

• New Grants for Traumatic Brain Injury Research Announced by Julian Bailes, MD, at SNMMI Annual Meeting

  Jun 11, 2017 — At the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Julian E. Bailes, MD, a recognized leader in the field of neurosurgery and the impact of brain injury on brain function, announced new grant funding programs of up to $25 million for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

• Joanna S. Fowler, PhD, Receives SNMMI 2017 Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award

  Jun 11, 2017 — Joanna S. Fowler, PhD, senior chemist emeritus of the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York; special volunteer at the National Institutes of Health; emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University; and adjunct professor in the Psychiatry Department, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for her contributions to nuclear medicine. Fowler was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 9-14 in Denver, Colorado.

• Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, Receives SNMMI 2017 Paul C. Aebersold Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Nuclear Medicine Science

  Jun 11, 2017 — Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, director of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, has been named the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Pomper was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

• Neuro-Receptor PET Could Provide an Early Warning for Alcoholic Relapse

  Jun 11, 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.

• PET Imaging of Atherosclerosis Reveals Risk of Plaque Rupture

  Jun 11, 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).

• Targeted Photodynamic Therapy Shown Highly Effective Against Prostate Cancer

  Jun 11, 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.

• Diagnostic Radiation Exposure Safe for Children, Experts State

  Jun 7, 2017 — In an article published in the June 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers assert that exposure to medical imaging radiation not only doesn’t increase an adult person’s risk of getting cancer, it doesn’t increase a child’s risk. According to the authors, 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 and leads to unnecessary fear and misdiagnoses.

• National Decision Support Company and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging enter agreement for delivery of Appropriate Use Criteria

  Jun 6, 2017 — National Decision Support Company and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced today that they have entered an agreement to make the SNMMI Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria available to referring physicians and other medical providers.

• In Memoriam: William Cushman Harvey, MD

  Jun 5, 2017 — William Cushman Harvey, MD, founder of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, passed away on February 18, 2017.

• 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.

• USP Plans to Establish New Chapter for Radiopharmaceuticals and Calls for Candidates on Expert Panel

  Jun 2, 2017 — The USP plans to establish a new General Chapter <825> Compounding-Radiopharmaceuticals.

• Combined Optical and Molecular Imaging Could Guide Breast-Conserving Surgery

  Jun 1, 2017 — Breast-conserving surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer, but more accurate techniques are needed to assess resection margins during surgery to avoid the need for follow-up surgeries. Now, in a first-in-human study, British researchers have provided a possible solution using Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), which combines optical and molecular imaging. The study is covered in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s June 2017 issue.

• 2017 Robert E. Henkin Government Relations Fellowship

  May 31, 2017 — The fellows spent a week in Washington, DC, and gained firsthand knowledge of Capitol Hill and inside federal agencies.

• SNMMI"s Congressional Testimony Supporting NIH Funding

  May 30, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has submitted testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services supporting increased funding in 2018 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The subcommittee will meet June 9, 2017.

• American College of Emergency Physicians Endorses AUC for V/Q Imaging in Pulmonary Embolism

  May 25, 2017 — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has endorsed SNMMI’s recently released appropriate use criteria (AUC) for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism (PE). This is significant as emergency room physicians are the primary audience for this critically important procedure to diagnose or rule out PE.

• The SNMMI Annual Meeting: Reaching New Heights in the Mile-High City

  May 18, 2017 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado, June 10-14. It will bring together more than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors from around the globe to share and learn about cutting-edge research, advance their knowledge through continuing education sessions, and network.

• Joint SNMMI/ACR Credentialing Statement Issued for PET/MRI of the Body

  May 15, 2017 — The American College of Radiology (ACR) and SNMMI have issued a joint credentialing statement for physicians responsible for the oversight and interpretation of PET/MRI examinations of the body (head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, skeleton, extremities). It is now available in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine online and will be published in the July issue.

• SPECT/CT Combined with Fluorescence Imaging Detects Micrometastases

  May 10, 2017 — Researchers in The Netherlands have demonstrated that combining SPECT/CT and fluorescence imaging could help surgeons differentiate tumor tissue from normal tissue. The research is detailed in the featured basic science article of the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Brain Injury Experts Hold Symposium Sponsored by SNMMI Clinical Trials Network

  May 8, 2017 — Experts in traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy gathered in Dallas, Texas, on May 6-7 for the Brain SAFTIE (Scanning to Assess For Traumatic Injury and Encephalopathy) Symposium. The participating physicians and scientists gave presentations on the current state of research in the field, identified gaps in existing knowledge, and discussed ways to address these gaps moving forward.

• This Month in JNM

  May 2, 2017 — See what articles are in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

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

  May 2, 2017 — In this first ever molecular drug-imaging study in children, researchers in The Netherlands used whole-body PET/CT scans to determine whether bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in children is likely to be effective. The study is featured in the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• SNMMI Publishes Appropriate Use Criteria for Ventilation/Perfusion Imaging in Pulmonary Embolism

  May 1, 2017 — SNMMI has released appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism. 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.

• Joint ACNM/SNMMI Webinar on PET/CT of the Skeleton – free for SNMMI members

  Apr 19, 2017 — The American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are offering a joint webinar, part of a series that is free to full and associate SNMMI members, on “PET/CT of the Skeleton – Using CT Findings to Increase the Specificity of PET” on April 26, 2017 at 12 pm EDT.

• PET Radiotracer Design for Monitoring Targeted Immunotherapy

  Apr 7, 2017 — In an article published in the April issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” researchers at Stanford University in California provide a template for assessing new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers that can accurately identify molecules in cancer cells that prevent the immune system from attacking the cancer.

• SNMMI Begins Release of Appropriate Use Criteria for High-Value Nuclear Medicine Procedures

  Apr 6, 2017 — SNMMI has released a new appropriate use criteria (AUC) for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer, the two most common diagnoses for which bone scans are ordered in the adult population. 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.

• Advanced FDG-PET Image Analysis Identifies Cell Mutations in Cancer Patients

  Apr 1, 2017 — Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) to successfully identify genetic cell mutations that can cause lung cancer. The research, published in the featured article of the April 2017 issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” shows that an advanced image analysis technique, radiomics, can non-invasively identify underlying cell mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

• 2017 Hot Trot 5K—Reaching New Heights in the Mile-High City!

  Mar 28, 2017 — The 3rd Annual “Hot Trot 5K” run/walk will take place in Denver, CO, on Saturday, June 10, at 7:00 am. Proceeds will support the Professional Development and Education Fund for SNMMI-TS and a local charity. New this year: a virtual option!

• SNMMI Social Media Reach Engagement Milestones

  Mar 20, 2017 — Today, information is received through a variety of media. What social media excels at is providing immediacy and a network of colleagues. It’s evident that these channels provide valuable information, as SNMMI’s Facebook page now has more than 12,000 likes, and the SNMMI LinkedIn group has more than 11,000 members!

• In Memoriam: Dirk (Dik) J. Kwekkeboom, MD, PhD

  Mar 15, 2017 — Dirk (Dik) J. Kwekkeboom, MD, PhD, professor of nuclear medicine at Erasmus Univeristy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, passed away March 8, 2017. An SNMMI member since 1998, he was considered one of Europe’s foremost experts on peptide receptor radiotherapy and was a frequent international speaker on neuroendocrine tumor imaging and lutetium-177 octreotate therapy. 

• New in JNMT

  Mar 13, 2017 — The March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology" is now available.

• Fluciclovine PET/CT Improves Radiotherapy Targeting for Recurrent Prostate Cancer

  Mar 6, 2017 — The featured clinical investigation article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that the PET radiotracer fluciclovine (fluorine-18; F-18) can help guide and monitor targeted treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, allowing for individualized, targeted therapy.

• New PET Radiotracer Identifies Inflammation in Life-Threatening Atherosclerosis

  Mar 1, 2017 — In the featured article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers demonstrate that a new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, gallium-68 (Ga-68)-pentixafor, can quickly and non-invasively identify life-threatening atherosclerotic plaques. The tracer binds to the CXCR4 receptor on inflammatory cells present in atherosclerotic plaques—making it possible to find and treat atherosclerosis early.

• 2017-2019 Interns Named for SNMMI Councils and Centers of Excellence

  Feb 23, 2017 — Congratulations to the 2017-2019 interns for the Clinical Trials Network, councils and centers of excellence!The internships begin mid-June, at the end of the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting and provide young professionals (physicians, technologists, or scientists) the opportunity to get involved with the society at the council and center level.

• Molecular Imaging Journal: SNMMI Members Submit Free Through May 2017

  Feb 15, 2017 — The APC for articles accepted for publication in "Molecular Imaging" (MIX) is waived for SNMMI members through the end of May. From June 1, 2017, forward, SNMMI members will receive a 50% discount.

• SNMMI-TS Announces 2017 Leadership Academy Graduates

  Feb 15, 2017 — Congratulations to the 2017 SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy graduating class!

• 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.

• SNMMI Responds to U.S. Travel Restrictions

  Feb 3, 2017 — SNMMI joins many other professional societies in the United States in asking President Trump to rescind his Executive Order restricting entry to America for individuals from certain countries. Read a message from SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, and see her letter to the President.

• New Type of PET Imaging Identifies Primary and Metastatic Prostate Cancer

  Feb 1, 2017 — In the featured article from the February 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers document the first-in-human application of a new imaging agent to help find prostate cancer in both early and advanced stages and plan treatment. The study indicates that the new agent—a PET radiotracer—is both safe and effective.

• FDA Issues Draft Guidances on Compounding and Repackaging Radiopharmaceuticals

  Jan 11, 2017 — The FDA issued two draft guidances that describe FDA’s proposed policies regarding the compounding and repackaging of radiopharmaceuticals for human use by state-licensed nuclear pharmacies or federal facilities, and outsourcing facilities.

• New Therapeutic Agent Proves More Effective Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer

  Jan 5, 2017 — A German multicenter study, initiated by the German Society of Nuclear Medicine, demonstrates that lutetium-177 (Lu-177)-labeled PSMA-617 is a promising new therapeutic agent for radioligand therapy (RLT) of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The study is published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" and is the featured article.

• Johannes Czernin, MD, Named Editor-in-Chief for "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine"

  Jan 3, 2017 — Johannes Czernin, MD, has assumed leadership of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" (JNM), the educational flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). Czernin is a professor of molecular and medical pharmacology and the chief of the Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

• SNMMI Develops USP Recommendations for Compounded Sterile Radiopharmaceuticals

  Dec 14, 2016 — SNMMI has developed USP Recommendations for Compounded Sterile Radiopharmaceuticals.

• 3D-Printed Kidney Phantoms Aid Nuclear Medicine Dosing Calibration

  Dec 5, 2016 — In nuclear medicine, the goal is to keep radiation exposure at a minimum, while obtaining quality images. Optimal dosing for individual patients can be difficult to determine. That’s where 3D-printed organ models of varying size and shape could be of great use. 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.

• Novel Anti-PSMA Imaging Agent Quickly Identifies Prostate Cancer Lesions

  Dec 2, 2016 — New research demonstrates that a novel imaging agent can quickly and accurately detect metastasis of prostate cancer, even in areas where detection has previously been difficult. Published in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of Zr-89-desferrioxamine-IAB2M (Zr-89-Df-IAB2M), an anti-PSMA minibody, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer shows its effectiveness in targeting both bone and soft tissue lesions.

• SNMMI President Sally Schwarz Serves on The Lancet Oncology’s Moonshot Commission

  Dec 1, 2016 — SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, is a co-commissioner on The Lancet Oncology’s Moonshot Commission, which was launched in response to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The Commission will deeply explore the underlying cancer burden and research landscape in the U.S. and propose specific research and funding priorities to help accelerate Moonshot plans. Schwarz is providing the Commission with insight on the key role of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in the battle to defeat cancer.

• ASNC, IAC and SNMMI Call for Field to Focus on Radiation Dose Optimization in Nuclear Cardiology

  Nov 17, 2016 — Working in concert, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)’s Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are mandating optimized radiation doses in conjunction with the nuclear cardiology studies (i.e., myocardial perfusion imaging) performed throughout the United States and beyond.

• Maria De León, MD, Advocate for Parkinson’s Community, Joins SNMMI Patient Advocacy Advisory Committee

  Nov 10, 2016 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is pleased to welcome Maria De León, MD, a neurologist, to its Patient Advocacy Advisory Committee. De León is living with Parkinson’s and is committed to increasing awareness of the disease, raising funds for research, and advocating for both patients and their caregivers.

• Ready, Set, Jet with CTN

  Nov 9, 2016 — In addition to providing cutting-edge education at the SNMMI Mid-Winter and Annual meetings, CTN frequently presents at international conferences. Recent presentations were given at the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine in Nagoya, Japan, and the Theranostics World Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

• VA Working to Resolve Issue of Qualified NMTs Not Being Allowed to Perform Diagnostic CT Services

  Nov 9, 2016 — SNMMI sent informal comments to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in October asking that the VA modify its qualification standards for the practice of diagnostic CT. The VA has responded that it is aware of this issue and is actively working toward a resolution. It agrees that NMTs with certification should be able to perform advanced CT procedures.

• Updated NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards

  Nov 9, 2016 — Minimal changes were made to the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards approved in September 2016. The main change is clarification of SNMMI-TS support of the NMTCB(CT) credential. Efforts are currently underway to include MRI in future revisions of the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards.

• WFNMB Selects New Leadership and 2022 Congress Venue

  Nov 7, 2016 — The World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) General Assembly announced election results for the new executive leadership team and 2022 Congress venue.

• PET Imaging Visualizes Hard-to-Diagnose Cardiac Amyloidosis

  Nov 1, 2016 — Researchers at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, have demonstrated that cardiac amyloidosis (abnormal deposits of proteins in the heart), which is notoriously difficult to diagnose, can be visualized noninvasively with positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiotracer fluorine-18 (F-18)-florbetaben. The study is published in the November issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Free online lecture & case review: Clinical Diagnosis and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s Disease

  Oct 31, 2016 — SNMMI has just released a new two-hour online lecture and case review on "Clinical Diagnosis and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s Disease." This complimentary program offers two hours of CE credit for both physicians and technologists.

• 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.

• OECD Responds to Questions Raised by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Report Titled “Molybdenum-99 for Medical Imaging”

  Oct 20, 2016 — Reports from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the OECD-NEA’s High-Level Group on the Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR) both indicate a period of increased risk to the Mo-99 supply chain with Canada ceasing production. However, neither states that shortages will occur.

• 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, which images vascular inflammation, to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Medicare Physician Compare Period Open Through November 11, 2016

  Oct 17, 2016 — Physician Compare allows clinicians and group practices to preview their performance scores for select 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for PQRS measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare later this year.

• CMS Releases Final Rule for MACRA

  Oct 17, 2016 — The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). MACRA ends the Sustainable Growth Rate formula for updates to the physician fee schedule, which threatened clinicians participating in Medicare with potential payment cliffs for 13 years. It replaces it with the Quality Payment Program, which rewards the delivery of high-quality patient care.

• SNMMI Submits Comments on FDA Compounding Draft Guidance

  Oct 13, 2016 — SNMMI has submitted comments to FDA regarding the Draft Guidance for Industry: Insanitary Conditions at Compounding Facilities.

• Updated eviCore Oncology Guidelines Cover Only FDG for PET Imaging

  Oct 7, 2016 — eviCore's updated coding recommendations indicate that it will cover only FDG – not fluciclovine, choline, or Ga DOTATATE – for oncologic PET imaging.

• FDA Approves New Generator and Elution System

  Oct 3, 2016 — On Friday, September 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a New Drug Application for a generator and elution system to produce Rb-82 chloride.

• Nuclear Science Advisory Committee Holds Mo-99 Meeting

  Sep 30, 2016 — The Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) is meeting this week to review the progress of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) program.

• PET Probe Images Breast Cancer’s Ability to Foil Treatment, Provides Therapy Guidance

  Sep 19, 2016 — Cancer biologists know that inhibitor-mediated feedback loop changes (increased expression of a cell surface receptor in response to target inhibition) can result in breast cancer treatment failure and the need for additional therapy. A recent study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City shows that imaging of these cell surface receptor changes with PET probes specific to epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) directly addresses this unmet need in cancer therapy decision-making, while avoiding the need for repeated biopsies. The study is reported in the September issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

• Call for Abstracts!

  Sep 7, 2016 — Attention young professionals! Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2017 SNMMI Mid-Winter and ACNM Annual Meeting. Plus, learn how your abstract could get you selected to travel to China and participate in the Sino-American Exchange Program!

• Pathways to the Future of Nuclear Medicine: Phase 1 Report

  Sep 5, 2016 — Hossein Jadvar, MD, PhD, MPH, MBA, reports on the progress of the Pathways the Future of Nuclear Medicine Task Force in determining potential training pathways for future practitioners in nuclear medicine.

• This Month in JNM

  Sep 3, 2016 — The September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available.

• SNMMI Submits Comments to CMS Regarding CY 2017 Proposed Rules for HOPPS and MPFS

  Sep 1, 2016 — The Society recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on two proposed rules.

• SNMMI 2016-2018 Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship Recipients Announced

  Aug 23, 2016 — SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016-2018 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2017.

• Imaging Drug Development - FDA Regulatory Issues Presentation Available to Members

  Aug 1, 2016 — The society has been given permission by the Food and Drug Administration to share the "Imaging Drug Development - FDA Regulatory Issues" presentation from SNMMI's 2016 Annual Meeting.

• SNMMI Technologist Section Announces Award Winners

  Jul 28, 2016 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

• SNMMI Presents at NRC Stakeholders Meeting

  Jul 27, 2016 — The Society recently presented at a high-level stakeholders meeting on July 26, 2016.

• SNMMI Honors Outstanding Contributors at Annual Meeting

  Jul 13, 2016 — SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

• PET/MRI: A One-Stop Imaging Test to Detect Prostate Cancer?

  Jul 11, 2016 — A University of Michigan study published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" reports that combining PET imaging with multi-parametric MR improves the accuracy of targeted prostate biopsies.

• Journal of Nuclear Medicine Impact Factor Third Highest Worldwide Among Medical Imaging Journals

  Jun 30, 2016 — "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" (JNM)—the flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)—has again been ranked among the top medical imaging journals worldwide, according to new data released in the 2015 Journal Citation Reports© published by Thomson Reuters. JNM earned an impact factor of 5.849—ranking third of the 124 journals included in the medical imaging category.

• SNMMI Named a Medicare Qualified Provider-Led Entity in the Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging

  Jun 22, 2016 — SNMMI has been named a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging. This will allow referring physicians to use SNMMI’s appropriate use criteria to fulfill the requirements of the 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act.

• SNMMI Announces Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, as President of Technologist Section During 2016 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2016 — Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, chief technologist/administrative officer and research coordinator for nuclear medicine with the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif., has been elected as the 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI Announces Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, as President-Elect of Technologist Section During 2016 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2016 — Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2016-17 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI Elects Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, as Vice President-Elect During 2016 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2016 — Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2016-17 vice president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI Elects Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, as President During 2016 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2016 — Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., has assumed office as 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI Elects Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, as President-Elect During 2016 Annual Meeting

  Jun 13, 2016 — Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2016-17 President-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI Creates Fellowship to Recognize Distinguished Service

  Jun 13, 2016 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced the creation of an SNMMI Fellowship recognizing distinguished service to SNMMI as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The announcement was made during today’s Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

• SNMMI and SNMMI-TS Welcome New Officers for 2016-17

  Jun 13, 2016 — At the 2016 SNMMI Annual Meeting, the SNMMI and SNMMI-TS welcomed new officers for the coming year.

• H. William Strauss, MD, Receives 2016 Benedict Cassen Prize for Research in Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine

  Jun 13, 2016 — H. William (Bill) Strauss, MD, FACNM, a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular nuclear medicine, was awarded the Benedict Cassen Prize, often considered the Nobel Prize of nuclear medicine, during the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in San Diego, Calif. This honor is given every two years by the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF) to a living scientist or physician-scientist whose work has led to a major advance in basic or clinical nuclear medicine science.

• Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, Receives SNMMI 2016 Paul C. Aebersold Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Nuclear Medicine Science

  Jun 12, 2016 — Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, FACNP, FACR, professor of radiology, pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, and director of the Molecular Imaging Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, has been named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Conti was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

• Ross McDougall, MB, ChB, PhD, Receives SNMMI 2016 Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award

  Jun 12, 2016 — Ross McDougall, MB, ChB, PhD, professor emeritus of radiology and medicine at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. McDougall was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) at its 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

• Predicting Advanced Prostate Cancer Outcomes with NaF-PET/CT

  Jun 7, 2016 — A recent pilot study reported in the June issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that NaF-PET/CT accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

• A Better Way to Diagnose and Manage Neuroendocrine Tumors

  May 9, 2016 — A recent study reported in the May issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that 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.

• SPECT-MRI Fusion Minimizes Surgery for Diagnosis of Early-stage Cervical Cancer Patients

  Apr 14, 2016 — A recent study reported in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes could benefit from SPECT-MRI imaging of their sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) to assess whether metastases are present.

• Twin Study: Genetics and Environment Affect Different Regions of the Brain

  Mar 1, 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.

• In Memoriam: Nuclear Medicine Pioneer George E. Thoma, Jr., MD

  Feb 11, 2016 — George E. Thoma, Jr., MD, a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine and a former vice president of the St. Louis University medical center, died Jan. 31 of natural causes. He was the founding editor of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," serving in that capacity from 1958 to 1970.

• A Better Way to Image Metastatic Prostate Cancer

  Jan 27, 2016 — A recent study, reported in the January issue of "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 than other detection methods currently in use.

• Henkin Fellowship Application Deadline: January 14

  Jan 6, 2016 — The Robert E. Henkin Fellowship is designed to provide young professionals in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging direct personal exposure to government relations activities.

• Combined Imaging Modalities May Change Cancer Management

  Dec 10, 2015 — PET/CT and whole-body MRI detect extraskeletal disease that may change the management of high-risk breast and prostate cancer patients, according to a recent study reported in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

• Notification of Proposed SNMMI Bylaws Change

  Nov 19, 2015 — The proposed amendments represent changes to the “Emeritus” membership category, as approved in January 2015 and revised on November 12, 2015.

• In Memoriam: Nuclear Medicine Pioneer Alan Davison, PhD

  Nov 17, 2015 — Nuclear medicine pioneer Alan Davison, PhD, MIT professor emeritus of chemistry and a Fellow of the Royal Society, has died at 79 following a long illness.

• 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.

• SNMMI 2015-2017 Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship Recipients Announced

  Sep 1, 2015 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015-2017 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship.

• PET Imaging Detects Fast-Growing Prostate Cancer

  Aug 20, 2015 — A molecular imaging biomarker is able to detect fast-growing primary prostate cancer and distinguish it from benign prostate lesions, addressing an unmet clinical need.

• SNMMI Honors Outstanding Contributors at Annual Meeting

  Aug 17, 2015 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an international scientific and medical organization, recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

• SNMMI Technologist Section Announces Award Winners

  Aug 17, 2015 — The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS)—an international scientific and medical organization—recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

• CMS Releases the CY 2016 HOPPS Proposed Rule

  Jul 2, 2015 — On July 1, 2015, CMS released the CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule.

• Imaging Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment: A Window into the Future

  Jun 29, 2015 — More than five thousand 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, Md.

• Journal of Nuclear Medicine Impact Factor Increases

  Jun 25, 2015 — The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM)—the flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)—has again been ranked among the top medical imaging journals worldwide, according to new data released in the 2014 Journal Citation Reports© published by Thomson Reuters.

• Your Response Is Critical.

  Jun 24, 2015 — A discussion is taking place that could change the course of the nuclear medicine profession. Your response is critical. If you have not already done so, please carefully review the following information and the two linked documents and respond as soon as possible.

• SNMMI Announces the Election of Neil A. Petry, MS, RPh, BCNP, to Board of Directors

  Jun 8, 2015 — Neil A. Petry MS, RPh, BCNP, associate professor of radiology and medical physics graduate program faculty member at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, has been elected director-at-large of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

• SNMMI Releases Executive Summary from FDA Stakeholder Meeting

  May 20, 2015 — SNMMI finalized its executive summary of the broad FDA Stakeholder meeting held in the fall of 2014.

• Highlights of SNMMI’s FDA Stakeholder Meeting

  Oct 30, 2014 — On October 27, 2014, SNMMI hosted a broad stakeholder meeting in Linthicum Heights, Md. The society brought in more than 40 experts from the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to discuss the current regulatory climate.

• SNMMI Submits Comments to TJC

  Oct 17, 2014 — On October 17, SNMMI submitted comments to The Joint Committee (TJC) regarding proposed revisions to diagnostic imaging services.