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Molecular imaging agents for SPECT (and SPECT/CT)

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development of hybrid single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) cameras has increased the diagnostic value of many existing single photon radiopharmaceuticals. Precise anatomical localization of lesions greatly increases diagnostic confidence in bone imaging of the extremities, infection imaging, sentinel lymph node localization, and imaging in other areas. Accurate anatomical localization is particularly important prior to surgery, especially involving the parathyroid glands and sentinel lymph node procedures. SPECT/CT plays a role in characterization of lesions, particularly in bone scintigraphy and radioiodine imaging of metastatic thyroid cancer. In the development of novel tracers, SPECT/CT is particularly important in monitoring response to therapies that do not result in an early change in lesion size. Preclinical SPECT/CT devices, which actually have spatial resolution superior to PET/CT devices, have become essential in characterization of the biodistribution and tissue kinetics of novel tracers, allowing coregistration of serial studies within the same animals, which serves both to reduce biological variability and reduce the number of animals required. In conclusion, SPECT/CT increases the utility of existing radiopharmaceuticals and plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of novel tracers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Department of Health via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We would also like to thank Dr. R. Torres and Prof. P. Blower, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, for providing the preclinical SPECT/CT image.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK

    Gopinath Gnanasegaran & James R. Ballinger

  2. Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    James R. Ballinger

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  1. Gopinath Gnanasegaran
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Correspondence to James R. Ballinger.

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Gnanasegaran, G., Ballinger, J.R. Molecular imaging agents for SPECT (and SPECT/CT). Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 41 (Suppl 1), 26–35 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-013-2643-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-013-2643-0

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