Dear AuntMinnie Member,
With the prevalence of heart failure projected to increase by almost 50% by 2030, AI could play a significant clinical role by predicting heart failure exacerbation, suggests a team led by researchers from Yale University. The group recently developed a model based on SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), one of the most common heart imaging exams. Click here for details on how the model performed.
While SPECT MPI remains the workhorse in the field, strong evidence is emerging that PET/CT MPI could play an increasing role, with pending approval of radiotracers and other advancements set to “revolutionize” cardiac care, experts recently suggested. Meanwhile, 11 medical associations released guidance on the use of PET/CT and SPECT/CT for patients with cardiovascular infections.
In other news, research presented at ECR 2024 in Vienna suggests that combining theranostics and radiomics – a new concept termed “theragnomics” – could be the key to realizing the full potential of molecular imaging of cancer patients. Speaking of theranostics, we also published Part I of a special series on the topic, which focuses on encouraging research propelling the technique.
We're highlighting two studies published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology: in the first, experts advised technologists to hold off on the Egg McMuffins for patients before gastric emptying scintigraphy studies, while the second advised staff performing nuclear medicine tests to familiarize themselves with the effects of cannabis on gut motility.
PET continues to play a key diagnostic role in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with recent research we covered suggesting that PET scans can reveal brain pathology driving sleep disturbances in these patients. Such studies illustrate the potential of PET to help improve patient outcomes -- which could be a boon as dementia cases are projected to rise to nearly 13 million in the U.S. by 2050, according to one expert.
Finally, we noted other encouraging news: PET scan volumes have continued to grow, with the total volume of scans increasing by 10.2% in 2023 compared with 2022.
For more molecular imaging news, be sure to check in regularly with our Molecular content area.
