Cardiovascular PET/MRI: Challenges and Opportunities

Richard LaForest; Pamela K Woodard; Robert J Gropler

doi:10.1016/j.ccl.2015.08.002

Cardiovascular PET/MRI: Challenges and Opportunities

Cardiol Clin. 2016 Feb;34(1):25-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ccl.2015.08.002.

Authors

Richard LaForest¹, Pamela K Woodard¹, Robert J Gropler²

Affiliations

¹ Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4525 Scott Avenue, Suite 1307, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
² Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4525 Scott Avenue, Suite 1307, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: Groplerr@mir.wustl.edu.

PMID: 26590777
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2015.08.002

Abstract

Recently, systems combining PET and MRI have appeared on the market. The 2 main advantages of these systems over PET/computed tomography are the improved soft tissue contrast with MRI obtained without ionizing radiation and the potential for simultaneous acquisition of the PET and magnetic resonance images. However, its clinical acceptance has been slow for several reasons. Moreover, there are significant technical challenges that must be overcome from an image acquisition, processing, display, and laboratory workflow perspective for implementing cardiovascular PET/MRI on a routine clinical basis. The potential is high for PET/MRI to become a critical tool in the management of disease.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular; Magnetic Resonace Imaging (MRI); Myocardium; PET/MRI; Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cardiac Imaging Techniques*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Multimodal Imaging*
Positron-Emission Tomography*