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Clinical Use and Utility of Amyloid Imaging
Barthel H, Sabri O.. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 2017-08-17
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Currently, 3 amyloid PET tracers are approved and commercially available for clinical use. They allow for the accurate in vivo detection of amyloid plaques, one hallmark of Alzheimer disease. Here, we review the current knowledge on the clinical use and utility of amyloid imaging. Appropriate use criteria for the clinical application of amyloid imaging are established, and most currently available data point to their validity. Visual amyloid image analysis is highly standardized. Disclosure of amyloid imaging results is desired by many cognitively impaired subjects and seems to be safe once appropriate education is delivered to the disclosing clinicians. Regarding clinical utility, increasing evidence points to a change in diagnosis via amyloid imaging in about 30% of cases, to an increase in diagnostic confidence in about 60% of cases, to a change in patient management in about 60% of cases, and specifically to a change in medication in about 40% of cases. Also, amyloid imaging results seem to have a relevant impact on caregivers. Further, initial simulation studies point to a potential positive effect on patient outcome and to cost effectiveness of amyloid imaging. These features, however, will require confirmation in prospective clinical trials. More work is also required to determine the clinical utility of amyloid imaging specifically in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and in comparison with or in conjunction with other Alzheimer disease biomarkers. In summary, the clinical use of amyloid imaging is being studied, and the currently available data point to a relevant clinical utility of this imaging technique. Ongoing research will determine whether this accurate and noninvasive approach to amyloid plaque load detection will translate into a benefit to cognitively impaired subjects.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Barthel, H., & Sabri, O. (2017). Clinical Use and Utility of Amyloid Imaging. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.116.185017
Vancouver
Barthel H, Sabri O. Clinical Use and Utility of Amyloid Imaging. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2017. doi:10.2967/jnumed.116.185017. PMID: 28818990.
BibTeX
@article{barthel2017-28818990,
author = {Barthel, H. and Sabri, O.},
title = {{Clinical Use and Utility of Amyloid Imaging}},
journal = {Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.2967/jnumed.116.185017},
pmid = {28818990},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.116.185017}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Disclosure of amyloid imaging results is desired by many cognitively impaired subjects and seems to be safe once appropriate education is delivered to the disclosing clinicians.
- Also, amyloid imaging results seem to have a relevant impact on caregivers.
Why it matters
This review reports that amyloid imaging changes diagnosis in about 30% of cases and management in about 60% of cases, with initial simulation studies pointing to a potential positive effect on patient outcome and cost effectiveness. It states these features require confirmation in prospective clinical trials and does not show any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Nuclear Medicine: journal h-index 230 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 103 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.4 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Osama Sabri: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Leipzig University: institution h-index 763 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28818990) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.116.185017
- PubMed: 28818990
- Original source →
- Free full text: jnm.snmjournals.org →
Full text: free to read — Unpaywall lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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