Molecular imaging and nuclear medicine can diagnose and treat many types of diseases. They are non-invasive, safe, and painless procedures to help doctors manage the treatment of cancer, heart disease, brain disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers, gastrointestinal disorders, lung disorders, bone disorders, and more. Let’s learn more.
What Is Molecular Imaging?
Medical imaging continues to advance, and now molecular imaging is at the forefront of technology for non-invasive imaging of cellular and molecular processes in our bodies. PET/CT, or Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography, are helping doctors find the right balance between image quality, dose amount for the patient, and scan time. It gives clinicians more accurate and detailed information to address patient outcomes.
Molecular imaging gives physicians insights into the patient’s body. In general:
- It provides information not accessible with other imaging tests that would involve more invasive procedures like a biopsy or surgery.
- It can identify diseases at their earliest stages and pinpoint the location of a tumor often before any symptoms can be detected by other screening tests.
- It detects cancer at the cellular level and any recurrence of tumors earlier than other tests.
As opposed to traditional imaging like X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI that details end stage pathology, molecular imaging reveals the underlying
biology occurring deep within cells anywhere in the body. It increases our understanding about diseases and a physician’s ability to intervene with treatments at an earlier time.
Benefits of Molecular Imaging
A clinician utilizing molecular imaging and nuclear medicine can provide the best managed care of patients plus assist with the following:
- Determine the severity of a disease like cancer including whether it has spread to other parts of the body
- Choose the most effective therapy due to the unique characteristics of the patient and the molecular properties of a tumor
- Ascertain how a patient responds to certain drugs
- Assess the effectiveness of a treatment
- Change a treatment plan quickly in response to changes in the patient’s cellular activity
- Observe how a disease progresses
- Can identify any recurrence of the disease and ways to manage ongoing care
Molecular imaging and nuclear medicine allow physicians and clinicians to see inside the human body like never before and to personalize patient care.
Contact Southwest Diagnostic Center of Molecular Imaging at (214) 345-8300 if you would like more information about our molecular imaging services in Dallas, TX.