Research ArticleSpecial Contributions

Variations in PET/MRI Operations: Results from an International Survey Among 39 Active Sites

Wolfgang Peter Fendler, Johannes Czernin, Ken Herrmann and Thomas Beyer
Journal of Nuclear Medicine December 2016, 57 (12) 2016-2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.116.174169

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • FIGURE 1.
    FIGURE 1.

    Survey of 39 PET/MRI sites by location (A), vendor (B), and first year of operation (C). PET/MRI location was categorized into (from left to right) North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Australia.

  • FIGURE 2.
    FIGURE 2.

    Present clinical and research applications. Most prevalent clinical and research applications have been categorized into cardiology (Cardio), neurology (Neuro), other, or oncology (Onco). Oncology was further subdivided by tumor type. GI = gastrointestinal; Gyn = gynecologic; H&N = head & neck; Hem = hematologic.

  • FIGURE 3.
    FIGURE 3.

    Present (A) and future (B) key applications. Participants listed up to 3 key applications for present and future PET/MRI use. Cardiovasc = cardiovascular; Gyn = gynecologic; H&N = head and neck; Neuro = neurologic; Onco = oncologic; Ped = pediatric; RT = radiation therapy.

Tables

  • TABLE 1

    PET/MRI Financial Resources As Well As Clinical Responsibility Separated by Provider

    CategoryAllPrivatePublicJointNucRadOther
    n3910291113105
    Funded by
     Hospital10 (26%)3 (30%)7 (24%)3 (27%)3 (23%)4 (40%)0
     Government7 (18%)07 (24%)3 (27%)01 (10%)3 (60%)
     Private11 (28%)5 (50%)6 (21%)3 (27%)5 (38%)3 (30%)0
     Res grant11 (28%)2 (20%)9 (31%)2 (18%)5 (38%)2 (20%)2 (40%)
    Reported by
     Joint30 (77%)7 (70%)23 (79%)10 (91%)12 (92%)5 (50%)3 (60%)
     Nuc only1 (3%)1 (10%)001 (8%)00
     Res only3 (8%)03 (10%)001 (10%)2 (40%)
     Rad only5 (13%)2 (20%)3 (10%)1 (9%)04 (40%)0
    MRI-only scans25 (64%)8 (80%)17 (59%)7 (64%)7 (54%)7 (70%)4 (80%)

    • Joint = Joint Nuclear Medicine/Radiology Department; Nuc = Nuclear Medicine Department; Rad = Radiology Department; Res = research.

    • Absolute numbers, with percentages in parentheses, are given.

  • TABLE 2

    Scan Time and Tracer Separated by Field of Application

    ParameterCardiologyNeurologyOncology
    Typical duration of scan (min)60 (30–120)45 (10–120)60 (30–100)
    Top 3 tracer used
     118F-FDG18F-FDG18F-FDG
     213N-NH3OtherOther
     3Other18F-FETPSMA ligands

    • PSMA = prostate-specific membrane antigen.

    • Median, with range in parentheses, is given for typical duration of PET/MRI scans. Data are from 39 responding sites.

  • TABLE 3

    Timeline for Clinical Adoption of PET/MRI

    ParameterAllPrivatePublic
    n391029
    In how many years  will PET/MRI excel  in clinical routine?
     14 (10%)04 (14%)
     313 (33%)5 (50%)8 (28%)
     515 (38%)2 (20%)13 (45%)
     106 (15%)3 (30%)3 (10%)
     >101 (3%)01 (3%)

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