Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1
Summary of imaging modalities available for molecular imaging (with permission from Massoud and Gambhir (2003)).
Imaging
Portion of
Spatial
Depth
Temporal
Sensitivity
Amount of
technique
EM radiation
resolution
resolution
probe used
spectrum
used
Positron
High energy
1-2 mm
No limit
10 sec to minutes
10-11 to
Nanograms
Emission
gamma rays
10-12 mole/L
To m o g r a p hy
(PET)
Single photon
Lower
1-2 mm
No limit
Minutes
10-10 to
Nanograms
emission
energy
10-11 mole/L
computed
gamma rays
tomography
(SPECT)
Optical
Visible light
3-5 mm
1-2 cm
Seconds to
Likely 10-15
Micrograms
bioluminescence
minutes
to 1-17
to milligrams
imaging
mole/L
Optical
Visible light
2-3 mm
< 1 cm
Seconds to
Likely 10-9
Micrograms
l uorescence
or near infra-red
minutes
to 10-12
to milligrams
imaging
mole/L
Magnetic
Radiowaves
25-100 μm
No limit
Minutes to
10-3 to 10-5
Micrograms
resonance
hours
mole/L
to milligrams
imaging (MRI)
Computed
X-rays
50-200 μm
No limit
Minutes
Not
Not
