Utility of Combining PET and MR Imaging of Carotid Plaque

By harnessing the versatility and soft tissue imaging capabilities of MR imaging alongside the unmatched sensitivity and biomolecular flexibility of PET, the potential to provide detailed multiparametric plaque characterization in the carotid arteries is clear. The ability to acquire simultaneous, and dynamic multimodal data is perhaps PET/MR's greatest strength that will be of major interest to researchers investigating carotid and coronary atherosclerosis alike. This review summarizes the current status of dedicated hybrid PET/MR imaging, to crystallize the rationale for and advantages of this technique with respect to carotid atherosclerosis, and to discuss current limitations, challenges, and future directions.