The Society of Nuclear Medicine's annual meeting, held June 13-17 at Toronto's Metro Convention Center, was an event-packed symposium and a magnet for practitioners, technologists, radiopharmacists and physicists from around the world looking for the latest innovations and research in molecular imaging.

This year the world's largest nuclear medicine conference featured the presentation of 1,600 research study abstracts and 1,000 industry posters, and 14 categorical seminars and 92 continuing education sessions. For instance, a session on how to set up a pre-clinical imaging lab brought attendees up to speed and offered continuing education credits for professional development.

"The annual meeting has really one primary focus and that is to ensure that our membership has the most up-to-date information relative to maintaining their certification to practice," former SNM President Dr. Robert Atcher told DOTmed. "It's also for scientists like myself to talk about the latest advances that we've made."
Preliminary numbers for this year's SNM attendance are at about 5,800 people, a noticeable increase over 2008's meeting despite some attendee concern over swine flu, indicated SNM leadership.

According to SNM research, approximately 68,000 patients undergo nuclear medicine procedures on a daily basis. Some of the most common molecular imaging procedures include single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cancer, as well as for cardiac, bone, lung, neuro and other tissue scans. The tradeshow floor displayed over 180 exhibitors' product offerings, but OEMs' awe-inspiring PET, SPECT and hybrid clinical and pre-clinical imaging systems dominated the stage.

Molybdenum-99 mania

The convention center was also packed with professionals discussing current events in the field, including the present radioisotope shortage. Technetium-99 is a medical isotope used in conjunction with SPECT, the modality that accounts for a majority of molecular imaging scans today. Technetium-99 decays from Molybdenum-99, the parent isotope in short supply. The top radioisotope processing companies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers highlighted their Technetium-99 supply strategies and many offered alternative agents.

Canadian Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq made an appearance to help solidify an alliance between SNM leadership and interested international governments and corporations to find supply solutions, and former SNM president Alexander J. (Sandy) McEwan was appointed the Minister's Special Advisor on Medical Isotopes.

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