However, the issue of
divergent sensitivities of the two modalities remains. Frullano et al. [76] addressed this problem by producing a low-specific-activity PET–MR agent so that a sufficient concentration of the MR component could be achieved while maintaining an appropriate amount of injected radioactivity. However, given the limited sensitivity of MRI, PET–MR probes, in general, cannot be considered AZD2281 price “tracers” in the traditional sense, which may limit the potential targets for such dual-modality agents. Beyond such examples, it is not immediately clear how many dual PET–MRI tracers present advantages over a corresponding single-modality tracer. Several of the above-referenced papers commented on the potential for improved diagnostics (in terms of increased sensitivity and specificity) and greater understanding of the underlying biology, but it is not self-evident that this should be the case. Currently, there Cyclopamine research buy is a paucity of data demonstrating the value in localizing a dual-modality tracer beyond merely the ability to detect it with both modalities (particularly, given the exquisite molecular sensitivity of
PET); that is, what new information can be learned by simultaneously detecting the agent by both modalities? As discussed in the next section, however, contrast agent “cocktails” (injections of two agents: one for PET and one for MRI) are of potential interest. It is instructive to divide the potential uses of PET–MRI in oncology into short- and long-term applications. Short-term applications include those that would require minimal new studies or validation in order to implement
PET–MRI in clinical practice. Long-term applications are those which logically stand to benefit from the spatial and temporal co-registration of PET and MRI functional measures, but for which there is currently a paucity of supporting data. Potential Hydroxychloroquine mouse short-term applications of PET–MRI in oncology include both disease staging and clinical situations calling for detailed characterization of a particular lesion or region. For disease staging, combined PET–MRI may offer advantages over separate PET and MRI examinations for measuring the distribution of disease over the whole body, while simultaneously providing required high-spatial-resolution imaging of one particular disease site; that is, PET can provide whole-body assessment, thereby guiding selection of a limited FOV for subsequent MRI and/or MR spectroscopy measurements. Examples from current oncology practice include whole-body staging of lymphoma or melanoma with simultaneous high-spatial-resolution evaluation of known brain metastases or whole-body staging of breast cancer with simultaneous high-spatial-resolution imaging of the breast for surgical planning. In other staging situations, there may be a compelling reason to use PET–MRI over PET–CT, e.g.