Clinical utility of quantitative imaging

Acad Radiol. 2015 Jan;22(1):33-49. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.08.011. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Abstract

Quantitative imaging (QI) is increasingly applied in modern radiology practice, assisting in the clinical assessment of many patients and providing a source of biomarkers for a spectrum of diseases. QI is commonly used to inform patient diagnosis or prognosis, determine the choice of therapy, or monitor therapy response. Because most radiologists will likely implement some QI tools to meet the patient care needs of their referring clinicians, it is important for all radiologists to become familiar with the strengths and limitations of QI. The Association of University Radiologists Radiology Research Alliance Quantitative Imaging Task Force has explored the clinical application of QI and summarizes its work in this review. We provide an overview of the clinical use of QI by discussing QI tools that are currently used in clinical practice, clinical applications of these tools, approaches to reporting of QI, and challenges to implementing QI. It is hoped that these insights will help radiologists recognize the tangible benefits of QI to their patients, their referring clinicians, and their own radiology practice.

Keywords: Radiology; biomarker; quantitative imaging; radiologist.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Molecular Probe Techniques*
  • Molecular Probes*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Molecular Probes