title: Variations in PET/MRI Operations: Results from an International Survey Among 39 Active Sites.
abstract: Information has been collected from PET/MRI operational sites to identify its present and future applications. This may help to focus discussions on common interests of the PET/MRI community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey of PET/MRI users was conducted from June to October 2015. The survey was composed of 26 questions related to the PET/MRI center, present use and imaging protocols, and perspectives on key applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were collected from 39 international sites that operated PET/MRI for a median of 30 mo (range, 2-62 mo). Most installations were located in public institutions with an academic focus (n = 26, 67%). Systems were primarily operated by nuclear medicine departments (n = 13, 33%), jointly by nuclear medicine and radiology (n = 11, 28%), and radiology only (n = 10, 26%). PET/MRI operation was equally focused on clinic routine and research (47% vs. 45% of sites, respectively). Sites reported a strong focus on oncology (76% of research and 88% of clinical applications). Other applications included neurology (9% clinical, 12% research) and cardiology (3% clinical, 6% research). Perceived superiority over PET/CT was identified as the strongest driver for clinical adoption. Over half the operators expect PET/MRI to excel in clinical routine within 3-5 y. Emerging key applications for future PET/MRI use were cardiovascular disease and imaging of inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An international survey of early PET/MR adopters reveals a mixed use of this combined imaging modality, with a focus on oncology. The future of PET/MRI is seen in expanded application for oncology and neurology, but also cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
authors: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California; and.
authors: Wolfgang Peter
authors: WP
authors: Fendler
authors: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California; and.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Czernin
authors: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California; and kherrmann@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Herrmann
authors: Centre of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, QIMP, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Beyer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: PET/MRI; imaging protocols; survey