Workflow and Scan Protocol Considerations for Integrated Whole-Body PET/MRI in Oncology

Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Ambros J. Beer¹  Markus Schwaiger¹  Alexander Drzezga¹  Sibylle Ziegler¹  Ernst J. Rummeny¹  Stephan G. Nekolla¹  Matthias Eiber¹  Michael Souvatzoglou¹  Axel Martinez-Möller¹ 

关键词: PET/MR;    oncology;    workflow;    hybrid imaging;   

DOI  :  10.2967/jnumed.112.109348

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Society of Nuclear Medicine

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown