Molecular Imaging Techniques for Glioma Assessment
Summary
Molecular imaging has transformed the evaluation of gliomas by revealing biochemical and physiological processes beyond the resolution of conventional anatomy. Positron emission tomography (PET) employs radiotracers that highlight metabolic pathways, amino acid transport or cellular proliferation, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can map perfusion, diffusion and microvascular permeability. Hybrid PET/MRI platforms combine these strengths, enabling simultaneous acquisition of complementary data. Quantitative metrics such as the standardised uptake value (SUV) and dynamic contrast-enhanced parameters permit tumour grading, delineation of infiltrative margins and early detection of treatment response. Recent advances in tracer development, image analysis and artificial intelligence support more precise biopsy guidance, radiotherapy planning and prognostic stratification, with the promise of tailoring interventions to individual tumour biology.
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Molecular Imaging Techniques for Glioma Assessment publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular imaging techniques for glioma assessment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Positron emission tomography (PET): An imaging modality that detects gamma rays emitted by positron-emitting radiotracers to map metabolic and molecular activity.
Radiotracer: A biologically active molecule labelled with a radioactive isotope, designed to target specific cellular processes such as amino acid transport or proliferation.
Standardised uptake value (SUV): A semi-quantitative index of tracer accumulation in tissue, normalised to injected dose and patient body weight.
Hybrid PET/MRI: An integrated imaging system combining simultaneous PET and MRI acquisitions to co-register metabolic and anatomical data.
Radiomics: The high-throughput extraction of quantitative features from medical images, enabling computational analysis of tumour phenotype and heterogeneity.
References
- Feasibility of [18F]fluoropivalate hybrid PET/MRI for imaging lower and higher grade glioma: a prospective first-in-patient pilot study. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2023).
- The relationship between gadolinium enhancement and [18 F]fluorothymidine uptake in brain lesions with the use of hybrid PET/MRI. Cancer Imaging (2024).
- Artificial Intelligence Analysis Using MRI and PET Imaging in Gliomas: A Narrative Review. Cancers (2024).
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