New technologies—the best is yet to come

Abstract

The development of new technologies has always been the most potent driving force of progress in medical sciences, and this is particularly true in the field of medical imaging. The introduction and the rise of techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography—to cite a few milestones—were at the core of a technological revolution that radically changed modern medicine and the way we can understand, diagnose and treat diseases. This moment in time can represent a similar crucial point for the growth of medicine: computer sciences and, in particular, artificial intelligence are on the verge of a leap forward unfathomable just a decade ago; personalized and precision therapies are on the rise and they adopt imaging and molecular imaging techniques at their core; advanced technologies are exponentially getting more precise and more available. This special issue on new technologies in imaging, edited by Prof. Ali Afshar Oromieh and Prof. Kuangyu Shi from the University of Bern, showcases some of the most exciting and brilliant advancements in the field. Birnbacher et al.’s review [1] on the state-of-the-art quantitative X-ray gating-based phase-contrast computed tomography showcases the many promising applications of these techniques. Multi-scale optoacoustic molecular imaging, as thoroughly reviewed by Razansky et al. [2], can provide highresolution real-time data instrumental in understanding better the pathophysiology of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, epilepsy and gliomas. Li et al.’s review [3] provides a comprehensive insight on the advantages and the challenges of hyperpolarized carbon-13 labelled pyruvate MR. This emerging technology can acquire dynamic metabolic information in a new, promising fashion that could complement limitations posed by established techniques, thus enriching our arsenal. The introduction of extended field of view PET scanners opened up new possibilities yet to be explored. Liu et al. [4] compared the kinetic metrics of [18F]FDG between ultra-low activity and full-activity total-body dynamic PET in healthy volunteers, obtaining comparable results and image quality. An essential step towards the application in the clinical setting of ultra-low activity protocols, benefiting from significant reductions in radiation dose and data size. Alberts et al. [5] evaluated the clinical performance of long field of view PET in a head-to-head intra-individual comparison with a regular scanner. Their findings showcase the excellent results obtainable with total-body PET and the flexibility of the technique, able to provide images of excellent quality, to reduce scan times significantly or to decrease radiation dose, according to the needs and the goals of the examinators. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting is a promising quantitative MRI framework able to provide fast, high-quality data. Tippareddy et al. review [6] the current state of this new, evolving technology. Wendler et al. [7] provide a review of molecular imaging techniques applied to precision surgery. Technological advancements in both fields can pave the way for a future of close collaboration between the two communities. Azargoshasb et al.’s work [8] focused on the production of a novel robotic gamma probe. This new generation device proved to have a relevant impact on surgical dexterity and decision-making, representing a promising step forward to complete integration of radio guidance in precision surgery. Gaustad et al. [9] developed an intravital microscopy assay using a standard fluorescence microscope. Their assay, This article is part of the Topical Collection on Technology.