Positron Emission Tomography Versus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

Abstract

In the course of the last decade, positron emission tomography (PET) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging have evolved from promising laboratory experiments to mature medical imaging procedures with well-recognized places in the biomedical armamentarium. It is now well established that in many instances each of these modalities provides information about the patient of a nature which has not so far been obtainable by any other means. In the recent past, the question has been raised by scientific investigators whether there was any appreciable overlap between the information supplied by PET and that obtainable from NMR imaging and, if such an overlap does in fact exist, whether in such areas of overlap one of the modalities would not displace the other if it were in any way superior.