Potential Applications of PET/CT/MR Imaging in Inflammatory Diseases: Part I: Musculoskeletal and Gastrointestinal Systems

PET Clin. 2020 Oct;15(4):547-558. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2020.06.008. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Abstract

During the past decades, the role of fludeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and hybrid PET/computed tomography (CT) has been established clinically in the diagnostic workup of a multitude of infectious and inflammatory disorders. In recent years, the fusion of MR imaging to PET has also been increasingly explored, and this may be especially useful in musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases due to exceptional soft tissue contrast and reduced radiation dose. This article outlines the current potential for hybrid molecular imaging in the musculoskeletal system and the gastrointestinal tract with special focus on the potential for fused PET/CT/MR imaging.

Keywords: FDG; Gastrointestinal disease; Infection; Inflammation; Musculoskeletal disease; PET/CT; PET/MR imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Musculoskeletal System / diagnostic imaging
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*