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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Jan 12.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Med Chem. 2012;19(28):4759–4766. doi: 10.2174/092986712803341584

Table 1.

Strengths and Weaknesses in Terms of Spatial Resolution, Sensitivity

Imaging Modality Sensitivity [moles/l] Spatial Resolution Relative Cost Strengths Weaknesses
PET ~10−11–10−12 1–2 mm (microPET);
4–5 mm (clinical PET)		 $ $ $ $ Highly Sensitive
Unlimited Depth Penetration
Clinical Translation		 Low spatial and temporal resolution
Cyclotron required for most of
isotopes used
SPECT ~10−11–10−11 ~1 mm (microSPECT);
12–15 mm (clinical
PET)		 $ $ $ Simultaneous imaging of more than
one tracer
Clinical Translation		 Low spatial and temporal resolution
CT ~10−4 ~100 μm $ $ High spatial resolution (bone/lung)
Fast		 Radiation
No target-specific imaging
Poor soft-tissue contrast
MRI ~10−3–10−5 ~20 μm $ $ $ Clinical translation
High spatial and temporal resolution
High tissue contrast		 Relatively insensitive
Imaging time
US A Single Bubble ~50 μm $ $ Clinical translation
High spatial and temporal resolution		 A few probes available
(bubbles of micron size)
Optical Imaging ~10−15 ~100 μm
(Endoscope)
2–3mm
(in vivo imaging)		 $ High sensitivity
Harmless
High-throughput capability		 Limited clinical translation
Depth detection limits