Integrating image fusion with nanoparticle contrast agents for diagnosis: a review

As newer technologies in the field of medical imaging continue to expand, development of unique techniques for optimizing image quality and minimizing radiation dose becomes very necessary for improve diagnosis of pathologies and patient safety. Different types of medical imaging devices have been developed for specific diagnostic purposes. This article provides a brief overview on the need for co-registration of some medical images into a single image (image fusion), advantages of some nanoparticle contrast agents in medical imaging, and a discussion of present and future role of integrating image fusion with nanoparticle contrast agents in diagnosis. The use of nanoparticle contrast agents together with image fusion is a promising technique in future medical imaging as is likely to reveal pathologies of ≤ 1 nm sizes.