Title:PET/MR Tomographs: A Review with Technical, Radiochemical and Clinical Perspectives
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Giampiero Giovacchini, Elisabetta Giovannini, Mattia Riondato and Andrea Ciarmiello*
Affiliation:Nuclear Medicine Department, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Nuclear Medicine Department, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Nuclear Medicine Department, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Nuclear Medicine Department, S. Andrea Hospital, Via Vittorio Veneto, 197, 19124 La Spezia
Keywords:PET/MR, attenuation correction, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors.
Abstract:Background and Objective: In the last decade, an increasing number of positron emission
tomography / magnetic resonance (PET/MR) tomographs were installed and many clinical
studies were performed in the neurological field.
Methods: Although PET/MR has many favorable properties to support the application in brain imaging,
attenuation correction, and therefore accurate quantification, is a problem that still requires
optimal solution.
Results: In this review we have summarized the three main methods that are currently used to correct
attenuation in PET/MR, namely atlas- or template-based methods, segmentation-based methods,
and reconstruction-based methods. There is currently active ongoing research to refine available
methods and improvements are reasonably expected in the next years. Clinical studies using
PET/MR focused mainly on neurodegenerative and neurooncological disorders. PET/MR hybrids
tomographs provided promising scientific results and were logistically more convenient for patients.
Additionally, in order to explore all potential clinical benefits of this hybrid technology, the
design and development of multimodal contrast agents has constantly increased the attention of
radiochemists. Many PET/MR dual probes have been already devised, particularly in the
nanotechnology field, sometimes preceding the identification of a clear diagnostic application in
medicine.
Conclusion: In the near future, we predict more clinical studies as the availability of PET/MR will
further increase and new tracers for neurodegenerative disorders will accept broader clinical acceptance.
