Hybrid imaging refers to the fusion of two (or more) imaging modalities to form a new technique. By combining the innate advantages of the fused imaging technologies synergistically, a new and more powerful modality usually comes into being.
Some hybrid imaging modalities are synergistic solely in anatomical details, while others combine structural and molecular imaging. This potential to reveal molecular processes in vivo while simultaneously depicting their anatomic location has been a groundbreaker ever since PET-CT was voted "Medical Invention of the Year" in 2000 by Time Magazine 4.
Existing hybrid imaging modalities include:
SPECT-MRI
ultrasound and MRI
ultrasound and CT
MRI and CT
angiography and CT
The general benefits of hybrid imaging include:
increased diagnostic accuracy
a further step towards individualized medicine
precise monitoring of interventional procedures
reduced radiation exposure, e.g. dynamic ultrasound after obtaining a CT map
NB: As per the agreed Radiopaedia style guide, when two modalities are combined such as PET and CT, the two modalities are separated by a single dash only, i.e. PET-CT, PET-MRI, etc. We ask contributors to not use the forward slash or any other format.