Table 1.
Modality | Sensitivity | Penetration depth | Spatial resolution | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ultrasound | Moderate | Low | 1 mm | Widely available; inexpensive; no ionizing radiation; real-time imaging | Limited molecular probes; small field of view; operator dependent |
MR | Moderate | No limit | <1–3 mm3 | No ionizing radiation; high spatial resolution | Susceptibility to motion artifacts; limited molecular probes; not compatible for patients with metallic implants or renal insufficiency; long imaging times |
SPECT | High | No limit | ~5–8 mm3 | High sensitivity; multiple radiotracers available for molecular imaging; ability to serially monitor long half-life isotopes | Exposure to ionizing radiation; attenuation from low-energy photons |
PET | High | No limit | ~3–5 mm3 | High sensitivity; established methods for attenuation correction; accurate and precise quantification | Exposure to ionizing radiation; need for on-site cyclotron or generator; advanced radiochemistry |
CT | Limited | No limit | <1 mm3 | High spatial resolution can be combined with other modalities (PET/SPECT) | Exposure to ionizing radiation; patient sensitivity to iodinated contrast agents |
OCT | High | Low | 10–20 μm | High-resolution intravascular imaging; superior plaque imaging | Catheterization required; poor penetration depth |
Modified from Naumova et al. [2]