WASHINGTON, D.C.Type the phrase molecular imaging into Google, and youll get 18.8 million results. Ask the individuals who perform molecular imaging for a definition, and no two will be alike. For this reason, SNMthe worlds largest society for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionalshas developed a broad definition for molecular imaging, often called the next frontier in diagnostic imaging. The society debuted its definition during its 54th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

We are on the brink of a revolutionary change in medicine. The catalyst for this change is molecular imaging, which provides a way to see, define and track how molecules in the body function and changeparticularly in relation to diseaseand use that information to improve patient care, said SNM 2006-07 President Martin P. Sandler. Molecular imaging provides the key to the future of personalized medicine, which involves diagnosing, treating and monitoring patients based on their individual makeup, added the associate vice chancellor for hospital affairs for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

SNMs definition is intended to capture and explain the essence of an evolving and multidisciplinary field, and its quite an achievement to reach a consensus, said Sandler, indicating that the field relies on the complementary skills of scientists and professionals, including nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, biologists, chemists, technologists, engineers and physicists. It is this interrelationship that allows for the continuation of rapid advances and integration across medical specialties, he noted. Our membersrepresenting many areas such as molecular and functional imaging, nuclear medicine, radiology and engineeringspent months developing this definition, he added.

The Webster dictionary says that a definition is a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrasea statement expressing the essential nature of somethi
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Contact: Maryann Verrillo
mverrillo@snm.org
703-652-6773
Society of Nuclear Medicine
6-Jun-2007