Systems, Physics, and Instrumentation of PET/MRI for Cardiovascular Studies

Abstract

In the years 2011–2014, three different whole-body PET/MRI hybrid systems from different vendors have been introduced to the market. While this rather new hybrid imaging modality is primarily used in clinical oncologic and neurologic hybrid imaging, cardiovascular applications are now gaining broader utilization. Cardiovascular hybrid imaging with PET/MRI is especially challenging because the independent data acquisition with PET and MRI is to be synchronized to breathing and cardiac motion to fully make use of the diagnostic potential inherent to this new hybrid method. New methodological developments and refinements in attenuation, truncation, and motion correction for PET/MRI further improve overall image quality and PET quantification in cardiovascular imaging applications. The rather complex hybrid imaging workflow integrating motion correction techniques is further streamlined to facilitate usability and to increase the diagnostic application spectrum. Instrumentation and methodology over the recent years have matured to a level that PET/MRI today is a powerful addition to the palette of hybrid imaging modalities in cardiovascular applications.