Published in:
01-04-2013 | Technological Advances in Cardiac Multi-modality Imaging (TH Schindler, Section Editor)
Cardiac PET/MRI
Authors:
Stephan G. Nekolla, Christoph Rischpler, Anja Batrice, Markus Schwaiger
Published in:
Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports
|
Issue 2/2013
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Abstract
The last decade saw an impressive increase in clinical utilization of hybrid imaging devices such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT, which enhanced the diagnostic quality of many examinations in nuclear medicine. Taking this concept to the integration of PET and MRI was a major technical challenge. Prior to this first generation of whole body scanners, preclinical and brain-only research systems were developed. Accordingly, clinical application is still in its infancy and many potential applications are currently in the proof of principle state. This holds true also for cardiac imaging and thus this review summarizes the core strengths of the individual modality, points to the areas where a synergetic effect is expected and presents initial experience with such a device. However, the additional value and potential clinical role with cardiac hybrid PET/MR imaging have yet to be documented.