Nuclear Medicine Applications in COVID-19 Diagnostics

Nuclear medicine has played a pivotal role in the detection and characterisation of COVID-19 by providing non-invasive visualisation of physiological and molecular processes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been used to identify inflammatory changes in pulmonary tissue, to detect incidental lung involvement in asymptomatic individuals and to explore organ-specific sequelae after acute illness. Standard tracers, notably 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG), have enabled quantification of metabolic activity in infected lung parenchyma and lymphoid structures, while novel radiolabelled peptides, antibodies and nanobody constructs have been developed to target viral proteins or cell-surface receptors. Beyond diagnosis, these approaches inform patient management by guiding isolation measures, monitoring treatment response and assessing long-term tissue damage. Global supply disruptions of radiopharmaceuticals and evolving safety protocols have underscored the need for resilient radiopharmacy practices and standardised imaging guidelines to ensure continuity of diagnostic services during pandemic conditions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A comprehensive global survey examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiopharmacy operations and diagnostic capacity across diverse regions. The study documented widespread reductions in routine radiopharmaceutical production and scheduling, with particular reliance on 2-[18F]FDG and technetium-99m macro-aggregated albumin for assessing pulmonary involvement. Laboratory throughput was curtailed by supply-chain interruptions and staffing constraints, prompting centres to implement stricter infection-control regulations. Despite these challenges, the adoption of enhanced protocols facilitated continued delivery of critical imaging services. Findings highlight the resilience of nuclear medicine departments and underscore the importance of adaptive radiopharmacy strategies to maintain diagnostic readiness during global health emergencies.

Nuclear Medicine Applications in COVID-19 Diagnostics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nuclear medicine applications in covid-19 diagnostics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Positron emission tomography (PET): An imaging modality that detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide tracer, providing three-dimensional images of metabolic and molecular activity.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT): A nuclear imaging technique that records gamma-ray emissions from injected radiotracers to generate cross-sectional images of physiological function.

Radiotracer: A compound labelled with a radioactive isotope, administered to trace biochemical pathways or bind specific molecular targets for diagnostic imaging.

2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG): A glucose analogue tagged with fluorine-18 used in PET to measure tissue glucose uptake, often indicative of inflammation or malignancy.

Nanobody: A single-domain antibody fragment derived from heavy-chain antibodies, characterised by small size and high stability, used for targeted imaging of specific antigens.

References

1. The effect of COVID-19 on nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy activities: A global survey. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. INCIDENTAL FINDINGS SUGGESTIVE OF COVID-19 IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURES IN A HIGH PREVALENCE REGION. Journal of Nuclear Medicine (2020).
3. Role of 2-[18F]FDG as a Radiopharmaceutical for PET/CT in Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (2020).
4. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Nanobody Using Virus Receptor Binding Domain-Administered Model Mice. Research (2022).