Hybrid imaging systems, particularly PET/CT, may feel like old news at this point given its adoption into clinical practice. That doesn’t mean, however, that innovation will lag in the field.

“The clinical potential for PET/CT arguably remains unfulfilled,” wrote Felipe de Galiza Barbosa, MD, and colleagues from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, in a recent article for Clinical Radiology.

“Current developments in detector technology that allow for faster scans with significantly reduced injected tracer doses open up new indications for PET imaging.”

In addition to shorter scans and dose reductions, technological developments will open the door for partial body PET/CT, and specialized tracers will continue to increase demand for PET/CT.

Moving on from the PET/CT workhorse, the market researchers at Frost & Sullivan earlier this year teased development of a novel platform: combining hybrid nuclear medicine and optical imaging systems.

Current research has already employed bioluminescent reporter genes in small animal models, but making the financial angles work will take more time.

“Although clinicians feel the hybrid nuclear medicine and optical imaging systems fusion is feasible, they are not convinced of the viability of hybrid scanners,” explained researchers with Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision practice.

Innovation never stops, and when it comes to hybrid imaging, we haven’t seen anything yet.

-Evan Godt
Editorial Director