Imaging of Infections and Inflammatory Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Medical imaging comprises a huge number of techniques including radiological examinations such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine techniques using different radiopharmaceuticals including scintigraphic methods (planar scintigraphy and SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Furthermore, hybrid modalities (SPECT/CT, PET/CT, PET/MRI) may provide morphological and functional data in the same session.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases include a large group of diseases with different etiology.

Infection is the invasion of a host organism by microorganisms such as viruses, prions, bacteria, and viroids, as well as larger organisms like parasites and fungal organisms. After invasion, these organisms may multiplicate and produce toxins. Hosts can fight infections using their immune system, usually producing inflammation.

Inflammation is part of the complex biological response by the organism to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is not a synonym for infection: we usually always have an inflammation associated with an infection, but we do not always have an infection if there is an inflammation.

Several imaging methods may allow for the early, noninvasive detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases; in particular, molecular imaging methods may be very useful for the measurement of cellular and molecular processes in living subjects related to infectious and inflammatory diseases.

This Special Issue will highlight the role of imaging methods in infectious and inflammatory diseases, in particular for diagnosis and the assessment of response to therapy. We encourage authors to submit both preclinical and clinical studies in the field. Clinical studies may include systematic reviews, retrospective studies, and prospective studies emphasizing the role and need of imaging techniques in infectious or inflammatory diseases.

Prof. Dr. Giorgio Treglia
Prof. Dr. Andor W.J.M. Glaudemans
Guest Editors

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