国際セラノスティクスジャーナル

Molecular Imaging

Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging is a type of medical imaging technique which allows physicians to view the body functioning and measurement of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Clinical applications include the use of nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US).Molecular imaging differs from traditional imaging in that probes known as biomarkers are used to help image particular targets or pathways. Biomarkers interact chemically with their surroundings and in turn alter the image according to molecular changes occurring within the area of interest. This process is markedly different from previous methods of imaging which primarily imaged differences in qualities such as density or water content. This ability to image fine molecular changes opens up an incredible number of exciting possibilities for medical application, including early detection and treatment of disease and basic pharmaceutical development