Atlas and Anatomy of PET/MR

Abstract

After the huge success of hybrid positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), there has been a continuous effort to develop a hybrid positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance image (PET/MR) machine. Recently, a magnetic field–compatible PET component has been developed by a substituting photomultiplier tube (PMT) for an avalanche photodiode (APD) or silicon multiplier (SiPM). This enables development and commercialization of PET/MR. Commercial simultaneous PET/MR is now seeking clinical validation. A simultaneous PET/MR system has several intrinsic advantages over a PET/CT system, including a lower radiation dose, higher soft tissue resolution of anatomic images, and the possibility of using a novel multifunctional PET/MR probe. In addition, there is the potential for the simultaneous acquisition of an anatomic image and PET. PET/MR has a higher soft tissue resolution than PET/CT; therefore the image reader should be well trained in reading normal anatomy and abnormal findings in MR for the proper reading of PET/MR. There are many MR books and atlases available to help understand and read MR images; however, there are few PET/MR atlases. This chapter includes typical PET/MR cases of patients with malignant tumors in the area of the brain, head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system. In each case, pathologic findings and essential surrounding normal structures for interpretation are indicated and named [1–4].