Simultaneous positron emission tomography and ultrafast ultrasound for hybrid molecular, anatomical and functional imaging.

Abstract

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is the most sensitive molecular imaging modality, but it does not easily allow for rapid temporal acquisition. Ultrafast ultrasound imaging (UUI)-a recently introduced technology based on ultrasonic holography-leverages frame rates of up to several thousand images per second to quantitatively map, at high resolution, haemodynamic, biomechanical, electrophysiological and structural parameters. Here, we describe a pre-clinical scanner that registers PET-CT and UUI volumes acquired simultaneously and offers multiple combinations for imaging. We demonstrate that PET-CT-UUI allows for simultaneous images of the vasculature and metabolism during tumour growth in mice and rats, as well as for synchronized multi-modal cardiac cine-loops. Combined anatomical, functional and molecular imaging with PET-CT-UUI represents a high-performance and clinically translatable technology for biomedical research.