TY - JOUR
T1 - Workflow and scan protocol considerations for integrated whole-body PET/MRI in oncology
AU - Martinez-Möller, Axel
AU - Eiber, Matthias
AU - Nekolla, Stephan G.
AU - Souvatzoglou, Michael
AU - Drzezga, Alexander
AU - Ziegler, Sibylle
AU - Rummeny, Ernst J.
AU - Schwaiger, Markus
AU - Beer, Ambros J.
PY - 2012/9/1
Y1 - 2012/9/1
N2 - Integrated PET/MRI systems open exciting possibilities for clinical and research applications. However, compared with PET/CT, PET/MRI is a complex technique resulting in new problems and challenges, especially regarding workflow, scan protocols, and data analysis. This complexity applies in particular to examinations in oncology with partial- or whole-body coverage extending over several bed positions. Unlike diagnostic PET/CT, for which the clinical CT protocols can largely be copied from stand-alone CT, the design of a diagnostic MRI protocol for partial- or whole-body coverage is more complex and has to be adapted to the special requirements of PET/MRI to be both time-efficient and comprehensive. Here, we describe basic considerations concerning workflow, imaging protocols, and image analysis for whole-body PET/MRI in oncology, based on our experience with the first integrated PET/MRI scanner. The aim is to fully and optimally make use of the combined PET/MRI measurements in oncology, including identifying and reducing image artifacts as well as optimizing workflow beyond the mere fusion of 2 image datasets. COPYRIGHT
AB - Integrated PET/MRI systems open exciting possibilities for clinical and research applications. However, compared with PET/CT, PET/MRI is a complex technique resulting in new problems and challenges, especially regarding workflow, scan protocols, and data analysis. This complexity applies in particular to examinations in oncology with partial- or whole-body coverage extending over several bed positions. Unlike diagnostic PET/CT, for which the clinical CT protocols can largely be copied from stand-alone CT, the design of a diagnostic MRI protocol for partial- or whole-body coverage is more complex and has to be adapted to the special requirements of PET/MRI to be both time-efficient and comprehensive. Here, we describe basic considerations concerning workflow, imaging protocols, and image analysis for whole-body PET/MRI in oncology, based on our experience with the first integrated PET/MRI scanner. The aim is to fully and optimally make use of the combined PET/MRI measurements in oncology, including identifying and reducing image artifacts as well as optimizing workflow beyond the mere fusion of 2 image datasets. COPYRIGHT
KW - Hybrid imaging
KW - Oncology
KW - PET/MR
KW - Workflow
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866147407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2967/jnumed.112.109348
DO - 10.2967/jnumed.112.109348
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22879079
AN - SCOPUS:84866147407
SN - 0161-5505
VL - 53
SP - 1415
EP - 1426
JO - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
IS - 9
ER -