Hybrid PET/MRI for In Vivo Imaging of Cancer: Current Clinical Experiences and Recent Advances

Hybrid PET/MRI represents an innovative diagnostic technology for non-invasive in vivo imaging of cancer. Although the current clinical experience is limited to few clinical centres investing in such an ambitious technology, preliminary results are showing potentials for hybrid PET/MRI to enter in the clinical setting as imaging technology that can profoundly impact on the pool of available in vivo multimodal imaging studies. The higher contrast increases detectability of oncological lesions in specific applications; the reduction of radiation exposure leads benefits for children and young adults and for follow-up studies; the multi-functionality of PET/MRI opens up to several opportunities for assessing cancer disease and for addressing oncological patients to optimal care.