title: Initial experience of MR/PET in a clinical cancer center.
abstract: Magentic Resonance/positron emission tomography (PET) has been introduced recently for imaging of clinical patients. This hybrid imaging technology combines the inherent strengths of MRI with its high soft-tissue contrast and biological sequences with the inherent strengths of PET, enabling imaging of metabolism with a high sensitivity. In this article, we describe the initial experience of MR/PET in a clinical cancer center along with a review of the literature. For establishing MR/PET in a clinical setting, technical challenges, such as attenuation correction and organizational challenges, such as workflow and reimbursement, have to be overcome. The most promising initial results of MR/PET have been achieved in anatomical areas where high soft-tissue and contrast resolution is of benefit. Head and neck cancer and pelvic imaging are potential applications of this hybrid imaging technology. In the pediatric population, MR/PET can decrease the lifetime radiation dose. MR/PET protocols tailored to different types of malignancies need to be developed. After the initial exploration phase, large multicenter trials are warranted to determine clinical indications for this exciting hybrid imaging technology and thereby opening new horizons in molecular imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UH Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Sasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Partovi
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Robbin
authors.forename: Oliver C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubbert
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vercher-Conejero
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kolthammer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.forename: Raj Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Paspulati
authors.forename: Pablo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ros
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: MR/PET; genitourinary cancer; head and neck cancer; molecular imaging; oncologic imaging