PET/MRI in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80%-85% of cases. Accurate imaging is critical for staging, treatment planning, and follow-up. While CT and PET/CT are standard imaging modalities, PET/MR is a relatively new and promising radiation free technique combining the potentiality of MRI with the metabolic information of PET scans, allowing undeniable advantages including: superior contrast resolution, particularly in soft tissues; functional information through specific MRI sequences (eg, diffusion-weighted and perfusion sequences), reflecting changes at a cellular level; and more superior sensitivity compared to CT and PET/CT for detecting metastases in common metastatic sites such as the brain, liver, adrenal glands, and bone. These advantages position PET/MR as a valuable tool in comprehensive lung cancer staging. While it is not yet a routine clinical tool, ongoing advancements in imaging technology, protocol optimization, and large-scale studies may establish PET/MR as a key component in the personalized management of lung cancer.