Molecular Imaging Probes Spy on the Body's Inner Workings: Miniaturized Microscopes, Microbubbles, 7- and 15-T Scanners, Diffusion-Tensor MRI, and Other Molecular-Imaging Technologies Are Pushing Molecular Imaging into the Future

Molecular imaging is one of the hot-button areas within medical imaging. This technology employs imaging techniques in concert with molecular probes, or biomarkers, that together noninvasively spy on cellular function and molecular processes. In some cases, this technology may be able to detect the very earliest stages of diseases and eliminate them on the spot. This paper discusses how miniaturized microscopes, microbubbles, 7T and 15T scanners, diffusion-tensor MRI and other molecular imaging technologies are pushing molecular imaging into the future.