Dear Molecular Imaging Insider,
This issue of the Molecular Imaging Insider offers a look at a study from the October issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have found reasonably low radiation exposure from use of the PET agent rubidium-82, comparable to an individual's annual exposure to natural background radiation.
The study's findings help to settle a discrepancy between previous estimates of radiation dose from a manufacturer of the PET agent and a report from the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Click here to learn more.
Other top features in this Insider include research from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in Ontario, which concluded that detecting vulnerable aortic plaque with conventional FDG-PET/CT myocardial viability studies is feasible. They also found that the rate of very positive FDG uptake among patients with ischemic heart disease is low, which points to the efficacy of statins and lipid-lowering drugs to reduce risk factors.
Dutch researchers are using FDG-PET/CT to identify early response to preoperative chemotherapy with erlotinib in most patients with non-small cell lung cancer, potentially avoiding unnecessary toxicity from ineffective treatment. Though the study population was relatively small, the researchers from four hospitals in the Netherlands concluded that the results are promising and consistent with preclinical studies.
And, finally, with two key nuclear reactors again producing molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), officials at SNM of Reston, VA, say supplies of the medical isotope are returning to normal in North America, but long-term production remains a critical issue. Read the comments and perspectives from Michael Graham, MD, PhD, past president of SNM and director of nuclear medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, on why the production of Mo-99 needs to be strengthened.
Be sure to stay in touch with the Molecular Imaging Digital Community on a daily basis to be informed on the latest news and research.
