# Positron Emission Tomography–Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a New Hybrid Imaging Modality for Dentomaxillofacial Malignancies—A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This systematic review evaluates the use of PET/MRI for diagnosing dentomaxillofacial malignancies, finding it potentially more accurate than other imaging methods.

## Contribution

The paper systematically reviews the current evidence on PET/MRI's diagnostic accuracy for head and neck cancers.

## Key findings

- PET/MRI was found superior in defining tumor size in half of the reviewed studies.
- Six studies showed no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy compared to MRI and PET/CT.
- Most studies had a moderate risk of bias, indicating a need for more rigorous research.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Emerging hybrid imaging modalities, like Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI), are useful for assessing head and neck cancer (HNC) and its prognosis during follow-up. PET/MRI systems enable simultaneous PET and MRI scans within a single session. These combined PET/MRI scanners merge MRI’s better soft tissue contrast and the molecular metabolic information offered by PET. Aim: To review scientific articles on the use of hybrid PET/MRI techniques in diagnosing dentomaxillofacial malignancies. Method: The available literature on the use of PET/MRI for the diagnosis of dentomaxillofacial malignancies in four online databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) was searched. Eligible for this review were original full-text articles on PET/MRI imaging, published between January 2010 and November 2024, based on experimental or clinical research involving humans. Results: Out of the 783 articles retrieved, only twelve articles were included in this systematic review. Nearly half of the articles (5 out of 12) concluded that PET/MRI is superior to PET, MRI, and PET/CT imaging in relation to defining malignancies’ size. Six articles found no statistically significant results and the diagnostic accuracy presented was similar in PET/MRI versus MRI and PET/CT images. Regarding the overall risk of bias, most articles had a moderate risk. Conclusions: The use of PET/MRI in HNC cases provides a more accurate diagnosis regarding dimensions of the tumor and thus a more accurate surgical approach if needed. Further prospective studies on a larger cohort of patients are required to obtain more accurate results on the application of hybrid PET/MRI.