title: Combined PET/MR: a technology becomes mature.
abstract: The combination of PET and MR imaging forms a powerful new imaging modality, PET/MR. The major advantages of concurrent PET/MR acquisitions range from patient comfort and increased throughput to multiparametric imaging and are evaluated and reviewed in this paper specifically with respect to their applications in research and diagnostics. Alongside the use of PET/MR in the field of preclinical research, this paper illuminates the impact of this new modality in the clinical field in such areas as neurology, oncology, and cardiology. Now that PET/MR technology has matured, attention is needed on standardizing education for nuclear and radiologic technologists and physicians specifically for this combined modality. Furthermore, the impact of this combined modality on health economy needs to be addressed in more detail to further propel its use.
authors.affiliation: Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department for Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; and.
authors.forename: Hans F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wehrl
authors.affiliation: Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department for Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; and Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Sauter
authors.affiliation: Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department for Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; and.
authors.forename: Mathew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Divine
authors.affiliation: Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department for Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; and bernd.pichler@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Bernd J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Pichler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009220:Myositis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012666:Semiconductors; D013679:Technology, Radiologic
keywords: PET/MR; applications; multifunctional imaging; simultaneous imaging