Emerging trends in nuclear medicine: breakthrough in radiopharmaceuticals, Geant4 simulations, and AI integration

Nuclear medicine has witnessed revolutionary progress, spurred by advances in radiopharmaceuticals, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. These advances have not only improved cancer diagnosis and treatment but also broadened nuclear medicine's application in the treatment of cardiovascular, neurological, and infectious diseases. The current research presents an in-depth review of radiotracers, encompassing production processes, market trends, and India's strategic initiatives towards improving nuclear medicine infrastructure. Emphasis on four key isotopes, ¹³¹I, ^99mTc, ¹⁸F, and ¹¹C, featuring their changing clinical use, ranging from high-resolution imaging to targeted radiopharmaceuticals treatments. The inclusion of radiopharmaceuticals with organic-based molecules has also improved drug delivery effectiveness by providing better specificity and lower toxicity. In addition, a comprehensive review of the central role of Geant4 in simulating radiation interactions and dose distribution, highlighting its complementarity with computational human phantoms to achieve higher accuracy in radiation dosimetry, has been discussed. Moreover, the emergence of artificial intelligence-based methods in medical imaging and treatment planning has brought new avenues for automation, diagnostic accuracy, and individualized therapy, notwithstanding issues related to interpretability, data bias, and regulatory issues. The review also discusses fundamental limitations of computational modeling and artificial intelligence implementation, suggesting areas of future research. As new technologies evolve continuously to influence nuclear medicine, interdisciplinary advances are set to redefine diagnostics, enhance therapeutic success, and propel the field towards more individualized, streamlined, and accessible healthcare solutions.