| Abstract: |
RT is essential for the treatment of cancers; however, RIIs pose significant challenges in the clinical setting that require advanced imaging tools for optimal characterization. Cardiopulmonary PETCT-MRI imaging provides a novel avenue to visualize both acute and chronic damage from ionizing radiation, with quantitative PET providing a particularly valuable anatomic and structural complement to the metabolic changes seen in PET-CT, which further enhances the diagnostic process and accuracy with early and timely visualization of subclinical changes. Despite advances in recent imaging modalities, several challenges open the way for further research and exploration of clinical uses. Development of standardized protocols for PET metrics and the use of novel tracers tailored to individual pathologies may be crucial for maximizing diagnostic accuracy and widespread clinical practice for treatment across multiple organ systems. Future research can focus on the evolving applications of PET in injured tissues such as the neurovascular and gastrointestinal tissues. Although PET-CT-MRI still faces several limitations, such as accessibility and implementation, we expect the multi-modal integration of quantitative MRI with current PET/CT imaging will provide a more comprehensive diagnostic framework that will play a leading role in the prevention and early identification of RIIs to further improve patient's quality of life. |
