title: Opioid Imaging.
abstract: Many breakthrough scientific discoveries have been made using opioid imaging. Developments include the application of ever higher resolution whole-brain positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, the availability of several radioligands, the combination of PET with advanced structural imaging, advances in modeling macroparameters of PET ligand binding, and large-scale statistical analysis of imaging datasets. Suitable single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) tracers are lacking, but with the increase in the number of available PET (or PET/CT) cameras and cyclotrons thanks to the clinical successes of PET in oncology, PET may become widespread enough to overcome this. In the coming decade, there should be a more widespread application of the available techniques to patients and an impact in clinical medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK; Epilepsy Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Room 243, Cyclotron Building, Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK; Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. Electronic address: alexander.hammers@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammers
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL, UK; Imaging Department, Division of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, DuCane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingford-Hughes