PET/MR Imaging in Cancers of the Gastrointestinal Tract.
PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) is an established hybrid imaging technique for staging and follow-up of gastrointestinal (GI) tract malignancies, especially for colorectal carcinoma. Dedicated hybrid PET/MR imaging scanners are currently available for clinical use. Although they will not replace regular use of PET/CT, they may have utility in selected cases of GI tract malignancies. The superior soft tissue contrast resolution and depiction of anatomy and the functional information obtained from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) provided by MR imaging in PET/MR imaging are advantages over CT of PET/CT for T staging and follow-up of rectal carcinoma and for better characterization of liver lesions. Functional information from DWI and use of liver-specific MR imaging contrast agents are an added advantage in follow-up of liver metastases after systemic and locoregional treatment. New radiotracers will improve the utility of PET/MR imaging in staging and follow-up of tumors, which may not be [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose avid, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors. PET/MR imaging also has application in selected cases of cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and pancreatic carcinoma for initial staging and follow-up assessment.
Division of Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Electronic address: Raj.Paspulati@UHhospitals.org.
Raj Mohan
RM
Paspulati
Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Amit
A
Gupta
D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*
Gastrointestinal tract malignancy; Liver tumors; PET/MR imaging; Rectal carcinoma; Treatment response; [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET