Dear Molecular Imaging Insider,
Leading off this edition of the Molecular Imaging Insider is a research study from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor showing that diffusion MRI and FDG-PET are two influential imaging biomarkers for quantifying tumor inflammatory response and macrophage infiltration after treatment.
With the National Cancer Institute estimating that as many as 560,000 people in the U.S. die from cancer each year, and the total expected to increase dramatically in the next 12 to 15 years, the U.S. healthcare system's resources undoubtedly will feel a heavier burden.
Add an ever-growing elderly population, and it becomes more critical for researchers to improve cancer detection and treatment with a more effective and targeted approach. Click here to read our Insider Exclusive article on how preliminary research by the University of Michigan could help cancer patients in the future.
In other stories, German and U.S. researchers and engineers are showing early success with a prototype hybrid PET/MRI system, which features a full-ring PET insert installed inside a 7-tesla MR scanner. The team from the University of Tübingen, Bruker BioSpin MRI, and Siemens Preclinical Solutions recently presented the results of its study on the performance of the hybrid PET/MRI small animal imaging system. How well it performs in this configuration could bode well for human patients. The details can be found by clicking here.
In addition, a new report by IMV Medical Information Division shows a decrease in the total number of patient visits for nuclear medicine procedures in 2006. Based on the first half of 2007, those numbers will increase this year, but remain below 2005 levels. Read details of the study to find out reasons for the downward trend.
Nuclear medicine in general has several other issues to tackle. The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine presented the results of a 13-month study that shows both concern and optimism for nuclear medicine's future. What becomes of the discipline in years to come will depend on research funding, radionuclide availability and cost, federal agency management, and efforts to address a shortage of trained specialists and experts. Contributing writer Cynthia Keen files this report.
Our next Molecular Imaging Insider will follow the 2007 RSNA meeting. No doubt there will be much information to disseminate, dissect, and discuss, so stay in touch with AuntMinnie.com through November and December for more molecular imaging news and features.
