Unlike the low intrinsic soft tissue contrast of CT, the superior soft tissue contrast of MRI allows for the improved assessment of fine anatomic detail and can provide additional information on tissue composition and function not possible with CT, the article explains.

As therapies have become more disease specific, diagnostic imaging must continue to advance with tailored disease-specific agents.Įarly studies have shown combining the use of these targeted precision medicine PET agents with MR imaging has some definite advantages compared with PET/computed tomography (CT). Precision medicine is loosely defined as an approach to disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in the patient’s tumour. 'With current and continued development in both PET and MR technology, PET/MR imaging will be a large contributor in precision medicine now and in the future,' the article points out. Combined with the superior capabilities of MR imaging to evaluate soft tissue, precision imaging with PET/MRI can change the diagnosis and treatment, says an article in press in the journal PET Clinics. Newer targeted PET tracers have been developed that target disease-specific biomarkers, and allow accurate and sensitive detection of disease.

Precision imaging