A Window on the Lung: Molecular Imaging as a Tool to Dissect Pathophysiologic Mechanisms of Acute Lung Disease

Table 1

Main strengths and weakness of CT, PET, and MR for functional lung imaging.

	Strengths	Weaknesses
CT	High spatial resolution	Radiation exposure
	Speed of acquisition	Limited ability to image biologic processes
PET	Image biologic processes	Radiation exposure
	Tracer kinetic modeling	Lower spatial resolution
MR	High spatial resolution	Requires hyperpolarized gases to image ventilation
	Radiation free	Limited ability to image biologic processes