Molecular imaging/Nuclear Medicine is a type of medical imaging that looks at biological processes. In contrast to other forms of diagnostic imaging that typically look at how the body is physically structured, molecular imaging focuses on seeing how the body functions. Very small amounts of radioactive materials called tracers are used to diagnose and sometimes to treat disease. Special cameras with crystals vibrate in response to these tracers to create pictures of how they distribute and move in the body in real time.
Molecular enables the visualization of the cellular function and the follow-up of the molecular process in living organisms without perturbing them. The multiple and numerous potentialities of this field are applicable to the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, and neurological and cardiovascular diseases. This technique also contributes to improving the treatment of these disorders by optimizing the pre-clinical and clinical tests of new medication. They are also expected to have a major economic impact due to earlier and more precise diagnosis.
ARA health specialists has had a dedicated group of molecular imaging/nuclear medicine subspecialists who are involved in a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for over 3 decades. In recent years, we have participated in several national trials and brought to Western North Carolina new imaging advances. We were the first non-academic center in North Carolina to offer Beta Amyloid testing for Alzheimers, and interpret more PET scans for cancer diagnosis and screening than anyone in the region.
