title: PET/MR: Yet another Tesla?
abstract: After the successful introduction of PET/CT as a multimodality imaging technique, PET/MR has subsequently emerged as an attractive instrumentation for applications in neurology, oncology, and cardiology. Simultaneous data acquisition combining structural, functional, and molecular imaging provides a unique platform to link various aspects of cardiac performance for the non-invasive characterization of cardiovascular disease phenotypes. Specifically, tissue characterization by MR techniques with and without contrast agents allows for functional parameters such as LGE, myocardial perfusion, and T1 maps as well as an estimate of extracellular volume. PET tracers excel by their high sensitivity and specificity, thus supplementing the functional tissue characterization by MRI. Although the clinical applications are yet to be validated , the first experience with PET/MR suggests future applications in the area of vascular imaging (unstable plaque) as well as in the characterization of inflammatory processes involving the heart. Ischemic heart disease can be comprehensively assessed by integrating regional function, perfusion, and viability. Future technical improvements leading to less costly PET/MR instrumentation are necessary to support routine clinical application of this promising technique in cardiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. markus.schwaiger@tum.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaiger
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunze
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rischpler
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nekolla
mesh_terms: D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000639:trends*
keywords: FDG; MRI; PET; myocardial infarction; myocardial perfusion