Technology Background: Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance (PET/MR) Systems

Here's background on PET/MR technology, explaining the key considerations for making wise purchasing decisions. Learn how the technology works, which specs are important, and more.

Combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance (PET/MR) systems provide anatomic and physiologic information in a single acquisition. Introduced in 2011, the technology aims to provide superior tissue characterization by combining the high soft-tissue contrast of MR images with physiologic images from PET. PET/MR can be used for evaluation of organs' function and for detection of lesions, cancers, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

PET/MR systems offer a few advantages over their PET/CT cousins (Drzezga et al. 2012):

1. MR provides greater anatomic detail in most organs and soft tissues compared to CT.

2. MR does not deliver...