Table 1

Summary of in vivo imaging methodologies

Imaging mode
Invasiveness
Sensitivity, resolution, time scale
Advantages
Disadvantages

Bioluminescence
Anesthesia
~100 cells, 5 mm, minutes
Noninvasive, sensitive, quantitative
Resolution, penetration
Micro positron emission tomography/single photon emission commuted tomography
Anesthesia
1000 cells, 2 mm, minutes
Noninvasive, resolution
Short half-life of isotopes
Magnetic resonance imaging
Anesthesia
1000 cells, 0.1 mm, minutes
Noninvasive, resolution
Sensitivity, slow
Intravital microscopy
Anesthesia/surgery
1 cell, 0.2 μm, seconds
Highest resolution
Invasive, penetration limited

Dustin Arthritis Res Ther 2003 5:165   doi:10.1186/ar768