The role of molecular and functional imaging in the development of innovative drugs - cardiology

Abstract

Molecular imaging is defined as the ability to visualize and quantitatively measure the function of biological and cellular processes in vivo. While anatomical imaging plays a major role in medical imaging for diagnosis, surgical guidance/follow-up, and treatment monitoring, the rapidly evolving field of molecular imaging promises improvements in specificity and quantitation for screening and early diagnosis, focused and personalized therapy, and earlier treatment follow-up. Molecular imaging in cardiology is a powerful and evolving field that uses advanced imaging techniques to visualize biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels within the cardiovascular system. Theranostics is a combination of the terms therapeutics and diagnostics.