354 research outputs found
What scans we will read: imaging instrumentation trends in clinical oncology
Oncological diseases account for a significant portion of the burden on public healthcare systems with associated
costs driven primarily by complex and long-lasting therapies. Through the visualization of patient-specific
morphology and functional-molecular pathways, cancerous tissue can be detected and characterized non-
invasively, so as to provide referring oncologists with essential information to support therapy management
decisions. Following the onset of stand-alone anatomical and functional imaging, we witness a push towards
integrating molecular image information through various methods, including anato-metabolic imaging (e.g., PET/
CT), advanced MRI, optical or ultrasound imaging.
This perspective paper highlights a number of key technological and methodological advances in imaging
instrumentation related to anatomical, functional, molecular medicine and hybrid imaging, that is understood as
the hardware-based combination of complementary anatomical and molecular imaging. These include novel
detector technologies for ionizing radiation used in CT and nuclear medicine imaging, and novel system
developments in MRI and optical as well as opto-acoustic imaging. We will also highlight new data processing
methods for improved non-invasive tissue characterization. Following a general introduction to the role of imaging
in oncology patient management we introduce imaging methods with well-defined clinical applications and
potential for clinical translation. For each modality, we report first on the status quo and point to perceived
technological and methodological advances in a subsequent status go section. Considering the breadth and
dynamics of these developments, this perspective ends with a critical reflection on where the authors, with the
majority of them being imaging experts with a background in physics and engineering, believe imaging methods
will be in a few years from now.
Overall, methodological and technological medical imaging advances are geared towards increased image contrast,
the derivation of reproducible quantitative parameters, an increase in volume sensitivity and a reduction in overall
examination time. To ensure full translation to the clinic, this progress in technologies and instrumentation is
complemented by progress in relevant acquisition and image-processing protocols and improved data analysis. To
this end, we should accept diagnostic images as “data”, and – through the wider adoption of advanced analysis,
including machine learning approaches and a “big data” concept – move to the next stage of non-invasive tumor
phenotyping. The scans we will be reading in 10 years from now will likely be composed of highly diverse multi-
dimensional data from multiple sources, which mandate the use of advanced and interactive visualization and
analysis platforms powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time data handling by cross-specialty clinical experts
with a domain knowledge that will need to go beyond that of plain imaging
Analysis and interpretation of dynamic FDG PET oncological studies using data reduction techniques
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dynamic positron emission tomography studies produce a large amount of image data, from which clinically useful parametric information can be extracted using tracer kinetic methods. Data reduction methods can facilitate the initial interpretation and visual analysis of these large image sequences and at the same time can preserve important information and allow for basic feature characterization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have applied principal component analysis to provide high-contrast parametric image sets of lower dimensions than the original data set separating structures based on their kinetic characteristics. Our method has the potential to constitute an alternative quantification method, independent of any kinetic model, and is particularly useful when the retrieval of the arterial input function is complicated. In independent component analysis images, structures that have different kinetic characteristics are assigned opposite values, and are readily discriminated. Furthermore, novel similarity mapping techniques are proposed, which can summarize in a single image the temporal properties of the entire image sequence according to a reference region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using our new cubed sum coefficient similarity measure, we have shown that structures with similar time activity curves can be identified, thus facilitating the detection of lesions that are not easily discriminated using the conventional method employing standardized uptake values.</p
Current Applications and Future Development of Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting in Diagnosis, Characterization, and Response Monitoring in Cancer
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has enabled non-invasive cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and management in common clinical settings. However, inadequate quantitative analyses in MRI continue to limit its full potential and these often have an impact on clinicians' judgments. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) has recently been introduced to acquire multiple quantitative parameters simultaneously in a reasonable timeframe. Initial retrospective studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using MRF for various cancer characterizations. Further trials with larger cohorts are still needed to explore the repeatability and reproducibility of the data acquired by MRF. At the moment, technical difficulties such as undesirable processing time or lack of motion robustness are limiting further implementations of MRF in clinical oncology. This review summarises the latest findings and technology developments for the use of MRF in cancer management and suggests possible future implications of MRF in characterizing tumour heterogeneity and response assessment
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