New developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are being achieved in two fields: methodological and technological innovations. This chapter will focus on the technological aspects of scanners, explain concepts, and give hints on how to deal with hardware-related issues. First, ...
This chapter provides an overview of how contrast in MR images can be achieved. The physical origin of the most basic contrast mechanisms is briefly explained and experiments to exploit these are discussed. Furthermore, the concept of using exogenous contrast agents is introduced.
This chapter presents the basic techniques for generating images with magnetic resonance. First, the usage of gradients for slice selection, frequency and phase encoding is explained. The concept of k-space is introduced and imperfections of the encoding methods are demonstrated by m ...
This chapter gives a short introduction to the physical and technical basics of nuclear magnetic resonance. It describes the formation of the NMR signal from the generation of the magnetization to the detection in the spectrometer. The behaviour of nuclear spins in a magnetic field is shown bas ...
The evaluation of patients with known or suspected recurrent colorectal carcinoma is now an accepted indication for positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) imaging. PET and CT are complimentary, and therefore, integrated PET/CT imaging should be p ...
Cellular imaging encompasses the noninvasive and repetitive imaging of targeted cells and cellular processes in living organisms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with its excellent spatial resolution, is ideally suited to provide unique information on the location and migra ...
We review the current status for magnetic resonance contrast agents that are designed to act as gene reporters. The basic concepts behind magnetic resonance and contrast enhancement are discussed, and factors that influence design of activatable contrast agents are presented. Seve ...
The era of personalized medicine is emerging as physicians attempt to diagnose disease in asymptomatic individuals and treat pathology early in its natural history. A novel tool in an emerging armamentarium, molecular imaging will allow noninvasive characterization and segment ...
The manganese ion (Mn2+) has long been used in biomedical research as an indicator of calcium (Ca2+) influx in conjunction with fluorescent microscopy because it is well established that Mn2+ enters cells through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Mn2+ is also paramagnetic, resulting in a shorten ...
Noninvasive techniques for measurement of tissue pH can be invaluable in assessing disease extent and response to therapy in a variety of pathological conditions, such as renal acidosis and alkalosis, and cancers. We present the details of three techniques for noninvasive measurement ...
Unlike any other organ, imaging of lungs with magnetic resonance faces unique challenges owing to the complex microstructure and presence of gas-tissue interfaces. With the evolution of faster and stronger gradient systems leading to ultrafast imaging with ultrashort echo times, pu ...
This chapter outlines the challenges that the pharmaceutical industry faces during the course of drug development and discusses the role of magnetic resonance imaging in preclinical drug discovery.
Cancer is one of the most mutable diseases known, exhibiting a superfluity and heterogeneity of molecular pathways that impart an almost chimerical nature to it. Exploiting these pathways for patient therapy demands an understanding of the physiology of tumors from the molecular to the sy ...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a noninvasive and multimodal tool to study neurological disorders in experimental models. MRI experiments can be sensitized to various contrast parameters and, hence, enable comprehensive assessment of normal and abnormal brain phys ...
Cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) opens a window to the metabolism of the heart. Various intermediates of metabolic pathways can be observed and followed over time. Most applications of cardiac MRS have been performed with the 31P nuclei, which reflect the metabolites from the ...
In addition to exquisite anatomical detail, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a variety of avenues to study functional status of tissue. These functional parameters could either provide additional information, in terms of pathophysiology, or may improve the specificity ...
For most cancers, PET is essentially a diagnostic tool. For brain tumors, PET has got its main contribution at the level of the therapeutic management. Indeed, specific reasons render the therapeutic management of brain tumors, especially gliomas, a real challenge. Although some gliomas may ...
Prostate cancer is biologically and clinically a heterogeneous disease and its imaging evaluation will need to be tailored to the specific phases of the disease in a patient-specific, risk-adapted manner. We first present a brief overview of the natural history of prostate cancer before di ...
Morphology-based imaging modalities have replaced classical conventional nuclear medicine modalities for detection of liver or pancreatic lesions. With positron emission tomography and the glucose analog F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a sensitive and specific modali ...
Testicular cancer is a rare tumor, subdivided into seminomatous and nonseminomatous tumors. Whereas there are no serum tumor markers in the first group, they are present in nonseminomatous tumors, and are also important prognostic factors. Overall, the prognosis for testicular cance ...