Cardiovascular PET/MR: We need evidence, not hype.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Medical Imaging Technology
• Nuclear Cardiology

Background:

• Hybrid positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) scanners are emerging in cardiovascular medicine.
• Optimistic assessments exist, but most data remain at the feasibility or pre-clinical stage.
• Clinical validation studies are necessary to support adoption.

Discussion:

• High costs and ionizing radiation exposure of PET/MR pose challenges.
• Additive benefits must be proven against established cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-only approaches.
• Payers and agencies demand cost-effectiveness and clear advantages for new technologies.

Key Insights:

• Current evidence for clinical PET/MR in cardiology is limited.
• The responsibility lies with proponents to demonstrate added value.
• Critical appraisal of existing data is essential for guiding future research.

Outlook:

• Further rigorous clinical validation studies are required.
• Cost-benefit analyses comparing PET/MR with CMR-only strategies are needed.
• The future of PET/MR in cardiology depends on demonstrating clear clinical utility and economic viability.