Development and Characteristics of MR-based Hybrid Medical Imaging Systems

초록

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems play a pivotal role in modern medical imaging due to their excellent soft-tissue contrast and capability to provide diverse functional and physiological information. However, MR alone has inherent limitations in delivering molecular-level metabolic information and enabling real-time treatment guidance. To overcome these limitations, MR-based hybrid medical imaging systems that integrate different imaging modalities and therapeutic devices have been actively developed in recent years. Among these, positron emission tomography (PET)/MR combines the high molecular sensitivity of PET with the superior anatomical and functional information of MR, offering new possibilities for the evaluation of oncological, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, MR-guided linear accelerator systems (MR-Linac) enable soft-tissue-based target localization, real-time monitoring, and online adaptive radiotherapy, thereby transforming the paradigm of precision radiation therapy. Meanwhile, although still limited in clinical implementation, SPECT/MR is emerging as a next-generation hybrid platform with promising potential in neurological and oncological applications. In this review, we systematically discuss the fundamental characteristics of MR and the rationale for its integration, as well as the development, technical features, clinical applications, limitations, and future perspectives of major MR-based hybrid imaging systems, including PET/MR, SPECT/MR, and MR-Linac.

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