Impact, Outcomes, & Change
An important goal of imaging is to provide a high-quality, appropriate test for the right patient at the right time. Appropriate diagnostic care reduces the potential for redundant testing, delays in interventions for the patient, and increased downstream cost. Diagnosed in 2007, one patient traveled to Germany to treat his pancreatic cancer. Three nuclear medicine treatments cut his disease nearly in half and got rid of all his symptoms. At the time, the nuclear medicine treatment was experimental, but in 2018 the Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in the United States. This patient has been living with his cancer for 15 years, an incredible outcome for a disease with such a high mortality rate.
Further research and development of novel radiotracers and radiotherapies will enable patients to receive more effective imaging, improving their care by detecting disease earlier, aiding in diagnosis, and increasing clinical confidence by providing a way to determine which treatments are appropriate. Because of the impact of research on nuclear medicine and molecular imaging,
patients with pancreatic cancer have a greater chance of survival. Years might be added to their lives.