Dear Molecular Imaging Insider,
An increasing number of studies are reporting on the benefits of PET/MRI as an alternative to other modalities for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the significantly reduced level of ionizing radiation during scans.
A new German study is touting that benefit from PET/MRI, along with the hybrid modality's comparable performance in a direct comparison with PET/CT for detecting primary cancer and metastases from unknown primary tumors. Researchers from the University Duisburg-Essen and University of Dusseldorf describe PET/MRI as a "powerful alternative," especially for patients who may face regularly repeated scans to chart their disease.
Read more about the study in this edition of the Molecular Imaging Insider.
In another comparison of modalities, SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and cardiovascular MRI individually reduced the chance of unnecessary angiographies compared with basing care on tried-and-tested clinical guidelines. The review of more than 1,200 symptomatic patients in six imaging centers across the U.K. also found that cardiac MR and MPI were equally as effective in preventing unnecessary angiography at least 12 months after imaging.
SPECT MPI also has proved quite beneficial for patients at high risk of cardiac events, while negative results from an MPI scan are indicative of an excellent long-term prognosis, according to Swiss researchers. They examined approximately 400 patients who underwent clinically indicated SPECT and coronary CT angiography to draw their conclusions.
As many as one-fourth of heart attack patients who might face stent implantation can forgo the procedure in favor of conservative management based on the results of optical coherence tomography (OCT). So concluded U.S. researchers in a presentation at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Rome in a study that used OCT to differentiate plaque erosion from plaque rupture.
The adage that "A picture is worth a thousand words" is quite appropriate in radiology. You will find fascinating this perspective on the current states of nuclear medicine, PET, SPECT, x-ray, CT, ultrasound, and MRI.
Be sure to visit the Molecular Imaging Community on a daily basis to stay informed on the latest news and research from around the continent and the world.
