Dynamic contrast agent enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) is a fairly well-established technique that was first introduced in the early 1990s. Used in the pharmaceutical and clinical research environments, the post-processing algorithm evaluates dynamic images to measure contrast agent uptake in target tissue. 

Independent of one another, CT and PET have played important roles in the identification and staging of sarcomas. CTs anatomic capabilities have helped physicians locate sarcomas in patients, while PETs functional capabilities have assisted in monitoring treatment, grading sarcoma, separating benign from malignant masses, selecting biopsy sites, and assessing the extent of sarcomas.

SPECT is far from the new kid on the molecular imaging block, but except for cardiac imaging, this nuclear medicine modality has not yet realized routine clinical utility as a replacement for conventional planar scanning. Recently developed reconstruction protocols and hybrid SPECT/CT scanners, however, could breathe new life into SPECT by opening the door to clinically feasible whole-body SPECT/CT. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is at the cutting edge of SPECT/CT research. This month, M.D. Anderson experts, Chair of Nuclear Medicine , Associate Professor , and Senior Medical Physicist Bill Erwin from the department of Imaging Physics discuss the clinical path to and potential of whole-body SPECT/CT.

Higher quality images and shorter acquisition times than stand-alone PET systems are among the benefits of adding 64-slice CT.

Over the last decade, hybrid imaging has become a standard of care in radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine and oncology. Integrated scanning systems offer a number of advantages for physicians and patients.

 A panel of seven clinical experts and public policy leaders offer insight on personalized medicine, technology, biomarkers and the DRA.

PET/CT has come a long way since Time magazine awarded the scanner one of its Medical Inventions of the Year award in December 2000. Published literature since 1996 has established strong evidence for the advantages of PET/CT over PET and CT alone for characterizing lesions as malignant or benign, and for staging, restaging and therapy monitoring of cancer. In addition, emerging applications include imaging of cardiovascular diseases and infection.

PET/CT has come a long way since Time magazine awarded the scanner one of its Medical Inventions of the Year award in December 2000.