american​ cancer care  institute

Molecular imaging is the use of imaging technologies to assess biological activity in the body. It provides a way to see, define and determine the biology of cancer and improve patient care. Molecular imaging is a technique that uses sophisticated diagnostic imaging equipment and systems to visualize specific ‘functional molecules’ based on their chemical and biological properties. This enables physicians to peer into the living body in order to identify diseases, monitor their progression or treat medical conditions at a molecular level. Unlike the in vitro diagnostics which typically require laboratory analysis of a sample such as blood or a biopsy,  molecular imaging displays the actual tissue environment. In simplest terms, probes lock up chemically with their surroundings, resulting in images that reveal molecular changes occurring within the organ or tissue of interest. This ability to image small molecular changes opens up an incredible number of exciting medical possibilities.