Table 2 Characterization of various molecular imaging modalities with CCA
From: Multimodal molecular imaging evaluation for early diagnosis and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma
Technique | Spatial resolution | Sensitivity | Depth | Time | Significant advantages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nuclear | PET | 6–10 mm | pM | Unrestricted | min-h | High sensitivity to deep tissue |
|  | SPECT | 7–15 mm | nM–pM | Unrestricted | min-h |  |
MR |  | 1–1.5 mm | µM | Unrestricted | min-h | High spatial resolution to deep soft tissue and no radiation |
Optical | BLI | 0.1–2a mm | fM | Few mm | min | High spatial resolution and sensitivity to superficial tissues |
|  | FLI | 0.1–2a mm | pM | Few mm | min |  |
|  | FMT | 1 mm | pM | 1–2 cm | min | 3D optical imaging and better depth sensitivity |
|  | OA | 0.01–1a mm | pM | Several cm | min | Higher imaging depth than OI and can monitor biological process |