New MRI Technique Images Glucose in Body to Spot Tumors

Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center have developed a highly sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that can image tumors in the body, without the need for conventional contrast agents or radioactivity. Normally, doctors often inject a contrast agent into the blood before an MRI scan. The contrast agent circulates in the blood stream and can be detected during the scan. However, it doesn't enter the cells themselves. Nutrients like glucose, however, do. Cells absorb glucose from the blood stream and break it down for energy. However, tumor cells need lots to glucose to maintain their aggressive growth. Being able to compare levels of glucose in different areas of the body should make it easier to see certain tumors that are hungry and therefore are growing aggressiv...

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