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Nuclear medicine applications in molecular imaging
Francis G Blankenberg1, H William Strauss
1Department of Radiology/Division of Pediatric Radiology, Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, California, USA. blankenb@stanford.edu
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|September 28, 2002
Summary
Molecular imaging agents are crucial for detecting biologic processes. This review covers radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), and microSPECT, highlighting their development and clinical translation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular imaging
- Nuclear medicine
- Radiopharmaceuticals
Background:
- Increasing demand for sensitive, safe imaging agents for clinical translation.
- Nuclear medicine and PET offer sensitive detection and serial monitoring of biologic processes.
- Radiopharmaceuticals are used in tracer quantities, avoiding pharmacologic side effects common with MR and CT agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review approved and pre-clinical radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine.
- Discuss strategies for selecting biologic markers and targets for radiotracer development.
- Highlight advancements in microSPECT imaging for small animals.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing radiopharmaceuticals.
- Analysis of strategies for biologic marker and target selection.
- Examination of microSPECT technologies for small animal imaging.
Main Results:
- Overview of a wide array of radiopharmaceuticals.
- Identification of key strategies in radiotracer development.
- Discussion of current pre-clinical and clinical applications.
Conclusions:
- Radiopharmaceuticals are vital for advancing molecular imaging.
- Development strategies are crucial for successful radiotracer translation.
- Nuclear medicine techniques like PET and SPECT are essential for preclinical and clinical research.