Optical imaging as an expansion of nuclear medicine: Cerenkov-based luminescence vs fluorescence-based luminescence

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2013 Aug;40(8):1283-91. doi: 10.1007/s00259-013-2408-9. Epub 2013 May 15.

Abstract

Integration of optical imaging technologies can further strengthen the field of radioguided surgery. Rather than using two separate chemical entities to achieve this extension, hybrid imaging agents can be used that contain both radionuclear and optical properties. Two types of such hybrid imaging agents are available: (1) hybrid imaging agents generated by Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) of β-emitters and (2) hybrid imaging agents that contain both a radioactive moiety and a fluorescent dye. One major challenge clinicians are now facing is to determine the potential value of these approaches. With this tutorial review we intend to clarify the differences between the two approaches and highlight the clinical potential of hybrid imaging during image-guided surgery applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Multimodal Imaging / instrumentation
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Nuclear Medicine / methods*
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes