Current and Future Use of Long Axial Field-of-View Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scanners in Clinical Oncology.

Roya, Mostafa; Mostafapour, Samaneh; Mohr, Philipp; Providência, Laura; Li, Zekai; van Snick, Johannes H.; Brouwers, Adrienne H.; Noordzij, Walter; Willemsen, Antoon T. M.; Dierckx, Rudi A. J. O.; Lammertsma, Adriaan A.; Glaudemans, Andor W. J. M.; Tsoumpas, Charalampos; Slart, Riemer H. J. A.; van Sluis, Joyce

Simple Summary: Recently: long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) positron emission tomography (PET) scanners have been introduced. Compared with conventional short axial field-of-view systems, these new scanners have a larger axial coverage and, thereby, a higher system sensitivity. This provides new opportunities for applying PET in clinical practice. Some examples are reduction of scan time duration for example in pediatric patients; reduction of the amount of radiotracer administered to the patient; longitudinal or delayed imaging using short- and long-lived radiotracers; and applications of dynamic or parametric imaging. In addition to this, new emerging techniques, such as artificial intelligence and imaging with multiple radiotracers could aid in a more general clinical application of LAFOV PET. The main objective of this review is to highlight these opportunities for oncological applications and to indicate future directions. The latest technical development in the field of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been the extension of the PET axial field-of-view. As a result of the increased number of detectors, the long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET systems are not only characterized by a larger anatomical coverage but also by a substantially improved sensitivity, compared with conventional short axial field-of-view PET systems. In clinical practice, this innovation has led to the following optimization: (1) improved overall image quality, (2) decreased duration of PET examinations, (3) decreased amount of radioactivity administered to the patient, or (4) a combination of any of the above. In this review, novel applications of LAFOV PET in oncology are highlighted and future directions are discussed.

RADIOACTIVITY; TIME; POSITRON emission tomography computed tomography; DIAGNOSTIC imaging; COMPUTED tomography; CANCER patient medical care; DIFFUSION of innovations

Cancers, 2023, Vol 15, Issue 21, p5173

2072-6694

Academic Journal

10.3390/cancers15215173