Imaging Modalities

VirtualScopics' study experience spans numerous imaging modalities including:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI)
  • Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (DCE-CT)
  • Functional MRI (fMRI)
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
    • Fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG PET)
    • Fluorothymidine PET (FLT PET)
  • X-Ray
  • Ultrasound
  • DXA
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

Using these modalities we can assess both structural measurements and functional parameters.

Structural imaging will typically provide measurements such as size, thickness, and/or shape. For example, in an MRI scan of a knee we can produce a three-dimensional reconstruction that graphically distinguishes cartilage from underlying bone as well as ligaments, fluid, etc. This provides a valuable assessment tool in the study of osteoarthritis - a disease with multiple endpoints - because it allows very sensitive and specific measurement of all components of the knee joint and the detection of small changes in any of those components over time.

Functional imaging allows the assessment of the metabolic activity of an organ or lesion through the measurement of markers such as tissue blood volume, blood flow, oxygen utilization or glucose metabolism. Functional imaging allows the direct measurement of drug effects that would otherwise only be observable indirectly, such as through their influence on patient survival. This is most commonly used in the study of anti-angiogenics and vascular disrupting agents in oncology.

© VirtualScopics 2012