About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is part of the “Quantitative PET and SPECT” series collection:
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Image Analysis and Methods
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Tracers, Instrumentation, and Emerging Technologies
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Biomedical and Clinical Applications
The field of molecular imaging is growing at a rapid pace. Significant advances in the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation, data acquisitions, and image processing and data analysis techniques have propelled positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) into a new era of biomedical research and clinical practice.
One of the strengths of PET and SPECT is that they permit whole-body molecular imaging in a non-invasive manner for the detection and serial monitoring of a variety of biological and pathophysiological processes, usually with tracer quantities of radiolabeled peptides, drugs, or other molecules at doses free of pharmacologic side effects. As such, these imaging techniques have the ability to show functional and biochemical changes that not only can help with the understanding of disease mechanisms but also the response of the body to treatment. Moreover, introduction of hybrid imaging systems has led to better diagnostic accuracy and a comprehensive picture of the disease by combining functional and anatomical information together.
New horizons have been made with the recent advent of total-body PET/CT scanners (e.g., EXPLORER and PennPET Explorer), enabling unprecedented sensitivity and simultaneous coverage of the entire body for imaging and quantification of tracer kinetics. The ability to capture the dynamics of radioactive tracers in multiple organs at once opens a new window into human biology. Similarly, innovations in SPECT instrumentation and reconstruction techniques have substantially improved the quality and quantitative accuracy of SPECT images.
Moreover, theranostics has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a wide number of human diseases by detecting and treating them in a more controlled, personalized, and effective manner. The growing number of promising theranostic agents necessitate accurate quantification of individualized dosimetry. Furthermore, quantitative methods are required in the pharmacokinetic analysis of new tracers and drugs. Computational methods, including radiomics and artificial intelligence, will thus serve as an essential part in supporting the analysis of 3D and 4D medical imaging data for clinical decision support and the drug development process.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the latest developments in image analysis and methods. The list of possible topics comprises but is not limited to image processing, medical image analysis, dynamic imaging, tracer kinetic modeling, parametric imaging, visualization techniques, image reconstruction methods, simulation-based medicine, radiomics, and artificial intelligence & machine learning.
We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, and other article types (please see full list here).
Topic editor Gregory Ferl is an employee and stockholder in Genentech, Inc. All other Topic Editors declare no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Image Analysis and Methods
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Tracers, Instrumentation, and Emerging Technologies
Quantitative PET and SPECT: Biomedical and Clinical Applications
The field of molecular imaging is growing at a rapid pace. Significant advances in the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation, data acquisitions, and image processing and data analysis techniques have propelled positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) into a new era of biomedical research and clinical practice.
One of the strengths of PET and SPECT is that they permit whole-body molecular imaging in a non-invasive manner for the detection and serial monitoring of a variety of biological and pathophysiological processes, usually with tracer quantities of radiolabeled peptides, drugs, or other molecules at doses free of pharmacologic side effects. As such, these imaging techniques have the ability to show functional and biochemical changes that not only can help with the understanding of disease mechanisms but also the response of the body to treatment. Moreover, introduction of hybrid imaging systems has led to better diagnostic accuracy and a comprehensive picture of the disease by combining functional and anatomical information together.
New horizons have been made with the recent advent of total-body PET/CT scanners (e.g., EXPLORER and PennPET Explorer), enabling unprecedented sensitivity and simultaneous coverage of the entire body for imaging and quantification of tracer kinetics. The ability to capture the dynamics of radioactive tracers in multiple organs at once opens a new window into human biology. Similarly, innovations in SPECT instrumentation and reconstruction techniques have substantially improved the quality and quantitative accuracy of SPECT images.
Moreover, theranostics has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a wide number of human diseases by detecting and treating them in a more controlled, personalized, and effective manner. The growing number of promising theranostic agents necessitate accurate quantification of individualized dosimetry. Furthermore, quantitative methods are required in the pharmacokinetic analysis of new tracers and drugs. Computational methods, including radiomics and artificial intelligence, will thus serve as an essential part in supporting the analysis of 3D and 4D medical imaging data for clinical decision support and the drug development process.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the latest developments in image analysis and methods. The list of possible topics comprises but is not limited to image processing, medical image analysis, dynamic imaging, tracer kinetic modeling, parametric imaging, visualization techniques, image reconstruction methods, simulation-based medicine, radiomics, and artificial intelligence & machine learning.
We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, and other article types (please see full list here).
Topic editor Gregory Ferl is an employee and stockholder in Genentech, Inc. All other Topic Editors declare no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: PET, SPECT, multi-modality imaging, image processing and analysis, tracer kinetic modeling, parametric imaging, simulation-based medicine, radiomics, and artificial intelligence/machine learning
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