title: 18F-FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI Perform Equally Well in Cancer: Evidence from Studies on More Than 2,300 Patients.
abstract: (18)F-FDG PET/CT has become the reference standard in oncologic imaging against which the performance of other imaging modalities is measured. The promise of PET/MRI includes multiparametric imaging to further improve diagnosis and phenotyping of cancer. Rather than focusing on these capabilities, many investigators have examined whether (18)F-FDG PET combined with mostly anatomic MRI improves cancer staging and restaging. After a description of PET/MRI scanner designs and a discussion of technical and operational issues, we review the available literature to determine whether cancer assessments are improved with PET/MRI. The available data show that PET/MRI is feasible and performs as well as PET/CT in most types of cancer. Diagnostic advantages may be achievable in prostate cancer and in bone metastases, whereas disadvantages exist in lung nodule assessments. We conclude that (18)F-FDG PET/MRI and PET/CT provide comparable diagnostic information when MRI is used simply to provide the anatomic framework. Thus, PET/MRI could be used in lieu of PET/CT if this approach becomes economically viable and if reasonable workflows can be established. Future studies should explore the multiparametric potential of MRI.
authors.affiliation: Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; and.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spick
authors.affiliation: Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; and jczernin@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czernin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
keywords: PET/CT; PET/MRI; cancer diagnosis; oncology; staging; therapy monitoring