Table 1 |
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Functional and molecular imaging methods |
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| Modality |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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| Magnetic resonance |
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| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
High spatial resolution and image detail |
Confined space |
| Increasing range of contrast agents under development |
Contrast design limited by need for magnetic atom |
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| Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) |
Can measure wide range of molecules |
Limited spatial resolution |
| No contrast needed |
Challenging to get high quality spectra in routine imaging |
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| Radionuclide imaging |
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| Positron emission tomography (PET) |
Wide range of molecular imaging probes |
Limited spatial resolution |
| Tracer imaging without perturbing biological system |
Some radiation exposure |
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| Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) |
Similar to PET |
Less quantitatively accurate than PET |
| Probes more widely available |
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| Ultrasound, especially with contrast enhancement |
Highly portable, inexpensive |
Operator dependence |
| Molecular microbubble contrast agents possible |
Contrast agents confined to vascular space thus far |
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| Optical imaging |
Highly portable, inexpensive |
Limited penetration from surface, limited to relatively superficial sites |
| High spatial resolution possible |
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Mankoff Breast Cancer Research 2008 10(Suppl 1):S3 doi:10.1186/bcr2126 |
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