Nuclear Medicine News and Research

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Nuclear medicine is a branch or specialty of medicine and medical imaging that uses radioactive isotopes (radionuclides) and relies on the process of radioactive decay in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. In nuclear medicine procedures, radionuclides are combined with other chemical compounds or pharmaceuticals to form radiopharmaceuticals.

New data for BMS747158 to be featured in oral presentation at ACC Annual Scientific Session 2010

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, today announced that new data for BMS747158, the company’s novel drug candidate in clinical development as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) perfusion imaging agent, will be featured in an oral presentation at the American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session taking place March 14-16, 2010 in Atlanta.

10 Mar 2010

Positron announces the sale of Attrius PET scanner to Ochsner Health System of Louisiana

Positron Corporation a molecular imaging solutions company focused on Nuclear Cardiology, announced the sale of its AttriusTM PET scanner to Ochsner Health System of Louisiana.

5 Mar 2010

Imaging technique combining ultrasound and microscopic bubbles help visualize tumor activity at molecular level

An imaging technique combining ultrasound and specially modified contrast agents may allow researchers to noninvasively detect cancer and show its progression, according to research published in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM). The technique enables researchers to visualize tumor activity at the molecular level.

2 Mar 2010

Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses Positron facility in Fishers to handle radioactive material

Positron Corporation a molecular imaging solutions company focused on Nuclear Cardiology, announced today that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has licensed the Positron facility in Fishers, Indiana to handle radioactive material.

2 Mar 2010

SUVmax in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients predict overall survival

The maximal standardized uptake value (called SUVmax) measured from FDG PET readings taken from the primary tumor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients before treatment is a strong predictor of disease-specific survival, overall survival and disease-free survival, while pretreatment SUVmax for lymphodenopathy is strongly associated with distant metastasis, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

1 Mar 2010

Imaging exam report enhances radiologists' decision making and can improve patient care

Embedding clinical images to accompany findings described in a radiology text report enhances radiologists' communication with referring physicians and can improve patient care, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org).

1 Mar 2010

Outpatient referrals from primary care physicians for CT, MRI studies inappropriate: Academic medical center

A large academic medical center has found that a significant percentage of outpatient referrals they receive from primary care physicians for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are inappropriate (based upon evidence-based appropriateness criteria developed by a radiology benefits management company), according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org).

1 Mar 2010

Growth rate among non-radiologists who own/lease PET equipment is on the rise: Study

Just as with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the growth rate among non-radiologists who own or lease positron emission tomography (PET) equipment is also on the rise, contributing significantly to the ongoing issues surrounding self-referral and unnecessary utilization of imaging in the United States, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org)

1 Mar 2010

Larynx preservation using chemotherapy followed by radiation is effective treatment: Study

Head and neck cancer patients receiving induction chemotherapy followed by radiation to preserve their larynx have a low-risk of severe voice disability and almost half experienced no eating or swallowing problems, according to a first of its kind study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

26 Feb 2010

NIA supports FDA initiative to reduce radiation overexposure from medical imaging

National Imaging Associates (NIA), a Magellan Health Services company, today applauded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its leadership and progress in addressing the issue of radiation overexposure through its Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging.

19 Feb 2010

Insight Imaging to provide Enterprise Solutions to Progressive Imaging Center

Insight Imaging announced today that it reached a three-year agreement to provide Insight Imaging Enterprise Solutions to the Progressive Imaging Center located on the campus of Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, New Jersey, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, New Jersey’s largest not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system.

19 Feb 2010

U.S. Patent and Trademark office issues Patent on Positron’s Tech-Assist

Positron Corporation a molecular imaging solutions company focused on Nuclear Cardiology, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark office has allowed for issuance a Patent on Positron’s Tech-Assist™. The Tech-Assist™, invented under the direction of John A. Zehner, a nuclear pharmacist, dramatically reduces exposure to the worker while injecting radiopharmaceuticals into patients when performing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging studies.

19 Feb 2010

Johns Hopkins Medicine acquires Naviscan Positron Emission Mammography for radiotracer research

Johns Hopkins Medicine has become the latest academic medical center to acquire the Naviscan Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) scanner. The device will be utilized by Richard Wahl, M.D., F.A.C.R, Professor of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in pre-clinical and translational research for the development of novel radiotracers.

18 Feb 2010

Long-term solution for U.S. medical isotope shortage needed

The medical community has taken additional steps to help alleviate ongoing challenges facing physicians and patients due to the worldwide isotope shortage. SNM cautions that while this is good news, a long-term solution for the U.S. is needed urgently.

18 Feb 2010

Covidien, IAE POLATOM announce agreement to augment supply of Mo 99 to produce Tc 99m

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, and the Institute of Atomic Energy in Poland today announced an agreement to augment and further diversify Covidien’s supply of Molybdenum 99 (Mo 99) to produce the medical isotope Technetium 99m (Tc 99m).

17 Feb 2010

FDA’s radiation exposure-reduction initiative: HealthHelp’s model provides quality and safety

The Federal Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently announced radiation exposure-reduction initiative acknowledges the vital need for industry-wide quality and safety measures like the ones HealthHelp provides its payer clients.

16 Feb 2010

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals' Cotara specifically targets solid tumors and anti-tumor activity

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PPHM) today reported publication of data in the online edition of the journal Current Cancer Therapy Reviews that supports the clinical potential of the company's novel brain cancer agent Cotara® for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the deadliest form of brain cancer. Cotara specifically targets cells at the center of brain tumors, so its radioactive payload is able to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue largely unaffected. Cotara is currently being tested in a Phase II clinical trial in recurrent GBM patients.

12 Feb 2010

New amplitude gating technique helps scanners pinpoint tumors

When one diagnoses a cancer patient, it's important to gather as much information about that person as possible. But who would have thought an accurate diagnosis would depend on throwing some of that information away?

12 Feb 2010

MUSC researchers introduce second generation dual-source CT scanner to detect cardiac disease

Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) are the first in the world to demonstrate the feasibility of a new method of detecting cardiac disease using enhanced computed tomography scanning technology. The findings will be published in the upcoming March / April issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

11 Feb 2010

FDA to take closer look at medical radiation, devices

The Food and Drug Administration will step up oversight of three forms of medical radiation, including CT scans, in an effort to reduce patients' exposure to unnecessary radiation, The New York Times reports.

11 Feb 2010

Nuclear Medicine News and Research

Further Reading

New data for BMS747158 to be featured in oral presentation at ACC Annual Scientific Session 2010

Positron announces the sale of Attrius PET scanner to Ochsner Health System of Louisiana

Imaging technique combining ultrasound and microscopic bubbles help visualize tumor activity at molecular level

Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses Positron facility in Fishers to handle radioactive material

SUVmax in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients predict overall survival

Imaging exam report enhances radiologists' decision making and can improve patient care

Outpatient referrals from primary care physicians for CT, MRI studies inappropriate: Academic medical center

Growth rate among non-radiologists who own/lease PET equipment is on the rise: Study

Larynx preservation using chemotherapy followed by radiation is effective treatment: Study

NIA supports FDA initiative to reduce radiation overexposure from medical imaging

Insight Imaging to provide Enterprise Solutions to Progressive Imaging Center

U.S. Patent and Trademark office issues Patent on Positron’s Tech-Assist

Johns Hopkins Medicine acquires Naviscan Positron Emission Mammography for radiotracer research

Long-term solution for U.S. medical isotope shortage needed

Covidien, IAE POLATOM announce agreement to augment supply of Mo 99 to produce Tc 99m

FDA’s radiation exposure-reduction initiative: HealthHelp’s model provides quality and safety

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals' Cotara specifically targets solid tumors and anti-tumor activity

New amplitude gating technique helps scanners pinpoint tumors

MUSC researchers introduce second generation dual-source CT scanner to detect cardiac disease

FDA to take closer look at medical radiation, devices

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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