Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (537 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The production of an image obtained by cameras that detect the radioactive emissions of an injected radionuclide as it has distributed differentially throughout tissues in the body. The image obtained from a moving detector is called a scan, while the image obtained from a stationary camera device is called a scintiphotograph.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Imaging, Radionuclide; Gamma Camera Imaging; Imaging, Gamma Camera; Radioisotope Scanning; Scanning, Radioisotope; Scintigraphy; Scintiphotography.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Techniques, Radioisotope
- Narrower topics
- Dopaminergic Imaging; Lymphoscintigraphy; Perfusion Imaging; Radioimmunodetection; Radionuclide Angiography; Tomography, Emission-Computed; Ventilation-Perfusion Scan
- See also
- Scintillation Counting; Gamma Cameras
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 255,589 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Radionuclide Imaging” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 42,393 of them (16.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 90,817 records.
Reviews account for 29,158 records (11.4%) and meta-analyses for 1,571. Randomized controlled trials number 3,411 (1.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 90,817 |
| 2000-2009 | 51,752 |
| 2010-2019 | 70,627 |
| 2020 onward | 42,393 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 29,158 | 11.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,571 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 3,411 | 1.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Radionuclide Imaging"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Whole-Body PSMA-PET/CT dataset with manually annotated tumor lesions | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 42432027 · DOI · PMC13354788 |
| Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278 |
| Functional pituitary adenoma imaging | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42307852 · DOI · PMC13616001 |
A Whole-Body PSMA-PET/CT dataset with manually annotated tumor lesions [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- We describe a publicly available, large, annotated dataset of 597 whole-body Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) studies with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeting radiotracers ([18 F]PSMA and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11) from 378 male patients with suspected or diagnosed prostate carcinoma.
- Closing excerpt
- Together with a previously published whole-body Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT dataset, this dataset was provided in the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention Society (MICCAI) registered autoPET III and IV Grand Challenges to enable the development of multi-tracer machine learning models for automated lesion segmentation in whole-body PET/CT.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (183 words)
We describe a publicly available, large, annotated dataset of 597 whole-body Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) studies with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeting radiotracers ([18 F]PSMA and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11) from 378 male patients with suspected or diagnosed prostate carcinoma. Scans were acquired between 2014 and 2022 on three clinical PET/CT scanners. The imaging protocol consisted of PET and diagnostic CT acquisitions extending from the skull base to the mid-thigh. All PSMA-expressing tumor lesions were manually segmented on the PET images in 3D space using dedicated software. The dataset includes anonymized DICOM files of all PET/CT studies, corresponding DICOM segmentation masks, and a TSV file with patient age, PET/CT manufacturer and model name, PET radionuclide, and information on whether CT contrast agent was used. We demonstrate how this dataset can be used for deep learning-based automated analysis of PET/CT. Together with a previously published whole-body Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT dataset, this dataset was provided in the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention Society (MICCAI) registered autoPET III and IV Grand Challenges to enable the development of multi-tracer machine learning models for automated lesion segmentation in whole-body PET/CT.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42432027 · DOI · PMC13354788
Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Immunotherapy has shown limited efficacy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), highlighting the need for noninvasive tools to monitor treatment-related biological changes.
- Closing excerpt
- Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (234 words)
Immunotherapy has shown limited efficacy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), highlighting the need for noninvasive tools to monitor treatment-related biological changes. This case series evaluated exploratory metabolic imaging correlates using [18F]-FDG PET/CT in mCRPC patients enrolled in a Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN) trial of sipuleucel-T (sip-T) with or without recombinant interleukin-7 (IL-7). Among 54 enrolled patients (NCT01881867), three underwent serial [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging at baseline and following sip-T therapy. Imaging assessed tumor metabolic activity and potential immune-related metabolic changes, based on the premise that immune processes may influence FDG uptake. Patient 1, treated with sip-T alone, demonstrated progressive sternal metastasis with stable SUVmax and marked increases in metabolic tumor volume (MTV: 10.1-34.5) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG: 43.4-145.8), consistent with poor prognosis. Patient 2 showed minimal tumor avidity but transient increases in splenic SUVmax and SUVmean following sip-T, which may reflect treatment-related or immune-associated metabolic activity. Patient 3, treated with sip-T plus IL-7, demonstrated a 33% reduction in SUVmax, stable disease on follow-up imaging, decreased PSA levels, and metabolic changes consistent with treatment response in this individual case. These findings were observed in a single patient and are considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating only. [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging may provide exploratory insights into metabolic changes in tumors and immune-related organs in mCRPC. Metabolic changes in tumors and immune organs may provide insights into treatment-associated biological effects. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278
Functional pituitary adenoma imaging [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- High-resolution pituitary MRI localises most pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs), yet clinically important subgroups remain challenging: (i) very small functioning tumours, particularly corticotroph microadenomas, and (ii) post-operative remnants where scar, gland and tumour cannot be reliably separated.
- Closing excerpt
- We emphasise how to optimise PET acquisition and reporting, and how to integrate imaging with endocrine phenotype, treatment history and surgical/radiosurgical planning to maximise clinical impact while safeguarding pituitary function.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (120 words)
High-resolution pituitary MRI localises most pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs), yet clinically important subgroups remain challenging: (i) very small functioning tumours, particularly corticotroph microadenomas, and (ii) post-operative remnants where scar, gland and tumour cannot be reliably separated. Functional imaging, specifically PET has matured into a problem-solving modality when conventional imaging is equivocal, provided it is used selectively and interpreted within a physiology-led framework. This review proposes an MRI-first, tiered imaging strategy and a pragmatic approach to tracer selection from the available armamentarium ([11C]methionine, [68 Ga]SSTR ligands, [68 Ga]PentixaFor, [18F]FET and [18F]FDG). We emphasise how to optimise PET acquisition and reporting, and how to integrate imaging with endocrine phenotype, treatment history and surgical/radiosurgical planning to maximise clinical impact while safeguarding pituitary function.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42307852 · DOI · PMC13616001
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Impact of 68Ga-PSMA PET on the Management of Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Meta-analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis [5]
- Research article Diagnostic performance of imaging for the detection of peritoneal metastases: a meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis by Subtype Using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography: A Contemporary Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article PET/MRI in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) for patients with biliary tract cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Jeblick K, Schachtner B, Mittermeier A, Dexl J, Wesp P, Küstner T, et al.. A Whole-Body PSMA-PET/CT dataset with manually annotated tumor lesions. . 2026. PMID 42432027 · DOI · PMC13354788
- Panikar SS, Bansal D, Crandall J, Raman H, Picus J, Ippolito JE, et al.. Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis. . 2026. PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278
- Hesse L, Haberbosch L. Functional pituitary adenoma imaging. . 2026. PMID 42307852 · DOI · PMC13616001
- Han S, Woo S, Kim YJ, Suh CH. Impact of 68Ga-PSMA PET on the Management of Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eur Urol. 2018. PMID 29678358 · DOI
- Mahmood M, Kendi AT, Ajmal S, Farid S, O'Horo JC, Chareonthaitawee P, et al.. Meta-analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. J Nucl Cardiol. 2019. PMID 29086386 · DOI
- van 't Sant I, Engbersen MP, Bhairosing PA, Lambregts DMJ, Beets-Tan RGH, van Driel WJ, et al.. Diagnostic performance of imaging for the detection of peritoneal metastases: a meta-analysis. Eur Radiol. 2020. PMID 32065287 · DOI
- Wang TKM, Sánchez-Nadales A, Igbinomwanhia E, Cremer P, Griffin B, Xu B. Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis by Subtype Using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography: A Contemporary Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2020. PMID 32507019 · DOI
- Evangelista L, Zattoni F, Cassarino G, Artioli P, Cecchin D, Dal Moro F, et al.. PET/MRI in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2021. PMID 32901351 · DOI · PMC8036222
- Lamarca A, Barriuso J, Chander A, McNamara MG, Hubner RA, ÓReilly D, et al.. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) for patients with biliary tract cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hepatol. 2019. PMID 30797051 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.