Molecular imaging expands its boundaries

The highlights of the recently concluded SNM meeting in which molecular imaging research had been given a profound boost are well summarized in the following link.
Molecular imaging expands its boundaries - MedicalPhysicsWeb
Key take-home points are

• FDG-PET can accurately identify a patient's response to neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer. (MUNICON trial of 110 patients)
• FLT-PET can determine brain tumor (recurrent malignant gliomas) patients' response to drugs within one or two weeks of treatment initiation. (UCLA trial of 19 patients)
• Combined myocardial perfusion SPECT+64-slice CT angiography can increase the accuracy of coronary artery disease diagnosis.
• PET-CT using a novel CT contrast agent (N1177 - a macrophage specific nanoparticulate contrast agent) can detect high risk atherosclerotic plaques.
• PET-CT imaging can effectively diagnose graft infection and differentiate it from surrounding soft-tissue infection. (A study in Israel on 39 patients with 69 vascular grafts)
• PET-CT is invaluable in the management of patients with suspected recurrent ovarian carcinoma. (A multicenter study in Australia on 90 patients)
• PET-CT is invaluable for non-invasively monitoring Crohn's disease. (A study in Belgium on 22 patients)