Molecular Imaging 2017

CLINICAL PROBLEM

Limitation of CT and MRI

• Contrast enhancement on CT and MRI and hyperintensity areas MRI are not always real measures of tumor extension. Tumor cells are detected beyond the margins of contrast enhancement, in the surrounding edema, and even in the adjacent normal-appearing tissue. • After treatment, contrast enhancement and edema can be treatment related and cannot be differentiated from persistent tumor on CT or MRI. • (Traditional) CT and MRI give no information about the biological properties of the tumor.