Dear Molecular Imaging Insider,
Whole-body PET/MRI can detect hypermetabolic lesions in cancer patients with similar sensitivity to PET/CT, according to a new study we're featuring in this issue of the Molecular Imaging Insider.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School believe the results set the foundation for future studies to validate PET/MRI for specific clinical indications. Click here for this Insider Exclusive, which you get access to before our other AuntMinnie.com members.
PET/MRI is also showing its potential prowess by outperforming PET/CT for lesion conspicuity and characterization in the abdomen, particularly in the liver, according to researchers from University Hospital Zurich.
Also in this issue, read why PET radiopharmaceutical developers last week got a six-month reprieve from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to comply with an upcoming rule change for manufacturing PET drugs. The new deadline is June 12, 2012, for PET drug manufacturers to submit new drug applications for their radiopharmaceuticals.
Addressing the need to watch expenses, a study from the University of Washington has shown that FDG-PET is more cost-effective in an initial workup of dementia patients, while amyloid PET imaging is more cost-effective as a secondary imaging option in a tertiary care setting. The study also found that the average cost per patient increases significantly if either FDG-PET or amyloid PET is used outside of a dementia center.
Finally, U.K. and U.S. researchers have found that using FDG-PET/CT scans to evaluate the response of patients who receive chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer can prevent unnecessary dissections in some cases. Although more research is needed, wider use of PET/CT in this application might prevent neck dissections that would ultimately prove to be unnecessary once pathological evaluations are completed.
Be sure to visit the Molecular Imaging Digital Community on a daily basis as we continue to report on important research presented at this year's RSNA meeting.
