title: [Molecular breast imaging. An update].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of molecular imaging is to visualize and quantify biological, physiological and pathological processes at cellular and molecular levels. Molecular imaging using various techniques has recently become established in breast imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Currently molecular imaging techniques comprise multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRSI), nuclear imaging by breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI), positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission mammography (PEM) and combinations of techniques (e.g. PET-CT and multiparametric PET-MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recently, novel techniques for molecular imaging of breast tumors, such as sodium imaging ((23)Na-MRI), phosphorus spectroscopy ((31)P-MRSI) and hyperpolarized MRI as well as specific radiotracers have been developed and are currently under investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be expected that molecular imaging of breast tumors will enable a simultaneous assessment of the multiple metabolic and molecular processes involved in cancer development and thus an improved detection, characterization, staging and monitoring of response to treatment will become possible.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Molekulare Bildgebung, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pinker
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Helbich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magometschnigg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fueger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baltzer
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
vernacular_title: Molekulare Brustbildgebung. Ein Update.