Table 1.
Individual strengths and weaknesses of the tested imaging techniques for monitoring of local and systemic tumor burden in orthotopic RCC xenograft models. hrUS = high-resolution ultrasonography, μCT = contrast-enhanced in-vivo computed tomography, MRI = 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging, PET = positron emission tomography, BOLD = blood oxygen level dependent, ASL = arterial spin labeling, DCE = dynamic contrast-enhanced, DWI = diffusion-weighted imaging.
| hrUS | μCT | 9.4T MRI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| spatial resolution | very high (33 μm) | very high (18 μm) | high (100 μm) |
| soft tissue contrast | good | poor | very good |
| metastases screening | liver | bone, lung | all organ systems |
| options for functional imaging | Doppler35, contrast agents16,17,36, photoacoustic imaging37 | contrast agents20, combination with PET38 | alternative protocols (BOLD, ASL, DCE, DWI)23–30, contrast agents17,39, combination with PET38 |
| examination time | very short (5 minutes) | short (12.5 minutes) | long (37.9 minutes) |
| radiation exposure | none | yes (radiation dose depending on protocol and number of scans) | none |
| costs (purchase) | moderate | moderate | high |