Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (605 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The use of combination of imaging techniques or platforms (e.g., mri scan and pet scan) encompassing aspects of anatomical, functional, or molecular imaging methods.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Imaging, Multimodal; Hybrid Imaging; Imaging, Hybrid.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Narrower topics
- Computed Tomography Angiography; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography
- See also
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Related concepts
- Mri Scan
- Positron-Emission Tomography
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 68,036 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Multimodal Imaging” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 35,254 of them (51.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 35,254 records.
Reviews account for 8,526 records (12.5%) and meta-analyses for 848. Randomized controlled trials number 901 (1.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 6 |
| 2010-2019 | 34,086 |
| 2020 onward | 35,254 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 8,526 | 12.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 848 | 1.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 901 | 1.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Multimodal Imaging"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-driven multimodal retinal imaging for early detection and risk stratification of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 42171726 · DOI · PMC13577979 |
| Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278 |
| Computed Tomography Angiography-Based Mapping of Septocutaneous Fibular Artery Perforators: An Anatomical Analysis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42452877 · DOI · PMC13370060 |
AI-driven multimodal retinal imaging for early detection and risk stratification of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Systemic vascular and neurodegenerative disorders are important causes of disability and death worldwide, mainly because of the late stage of diagnosis and the high cost of current screening tools.
- Closing excerpt
- In conclusion, AI-assisted retinal analysis may make way for early screening, better prevention, and more accessible precision healthcare.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (196 words)
Systemic vascular and neurodegenerative disorders are important causes of disability and death worldwide, mainly because of the late stage of diagnosis and the high cost of current screening tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) and multimodal retinal imaging offer a non-invasive and viable approach for early risk stratification and longitudinal monitoring. This review highlights how changes in the retinal vasculature and nerve layers are markers of underlying pathophysiologies related to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological disorders. It gives an account of the critical retinal imaging modalities, such as fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA), and more recently developed metabolic-sensitive imaging modalities, and how current AI approaches, such as deep learning, self-supervised learning, and multimodal fusion, can be leveraged for better risk stratification and decision support. Evidence from hypertension, stroke, coronary artery disease, diabetic complications, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cognitive impairment shows the potential for the retina to serve as a scalable biomarker for systemic health. However, there are still hurdles to be cleared, such as multicenter validation, prospective clinical trials, data fusion, and regulatory frameworks. In conclusion, AI-assisted retinal analysis may make way for early screening, better prevention, and more accessible precision healthcare.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42171726 · DOI · PMC13577979
Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Immunotherapy has shown limited efficacy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), highlighting the need for noninvasive tools to monitor treatment-related biological changes.
- Closing excerpt
- Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (234 words)
Immunotherapy has shown limited efficacy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), highlighting the need for noninvasive tools to monitor treatment-related biological changes. This case series evaluated exploratory metabolic imaging correlates using [18F]-FDG PET/CT in mCRPC patients enrolled in a Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN) trial of sipuleucel-T (sip-T) with or without recombinant interleukin-7 (IL-7). Among 54 enrolled patients (NCT01881867), three underwent serial [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging at baseline and following sip-T therapy. Imaging assessed tumor metabolic activity and potential immune-related metabolic changes, based on the premise that immune processes may influence FDG uptake. Patient 1, treated with sip-T alone, demonstrated progressive sternal metastasis with stable SUVmax and marked increases in metabolic tumor volume (MTV: 10.1-34.5) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG: 43.4-145.8), consistent with poor prognosis. Patient 2 showed minimal tumor avidity but transient increases in splenic SUVmax and SUVmean following sip-T, which may reflect treatment-related or immune-associated metabolic activity. Patient 3, treated with sip-T plus IL-7, demonstrated a 33% reduction in SUVmax, stable disease on follow-up imaging, decreased PSA levels, and metabolic changes consistent with treatment response in this individual case. These findings were observed in a single patient and are considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating only. [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging may provide exploratory insights into metabolic changes in tumors and immune-related organs in mCRPC. Metabolic changes in tumors and immune organs may provide insights into treatment-associated biological effects. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278
Computed Tomography Angiography-Based Mapping of Septocutaneous Fibular Artery Perforators: An Anatomical Analysis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundReliable localization of septocutaneous fibular artery perforators is essential for fibula free flap planning.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings support artery-based mapping for fibula flap planning.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (175 words)
BackgroundReliable localization of septocutaneous fibular artery perforators is essential for fibula free flap planning. However, the influence of lower-leg vascular anatomy on perforator number and spatial distribution remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze perforator number and spatial distribution using computed tomography angiography (CTA) with both fibula- and artery-based reference systems.MethodsIn this retrospective study, patients undergoing lower-extremity CTA before mandibular continuity resection were screened. Parameters included run-off status, Kim classification, vascular anomalies, atherosclerotic plaque, and morphometric characteristics of the fibula and fibular artery. Perforator number per limb and relative perforator position were assessed using fibula- and artery-based reference systems. Associations were evaluated using nonparametric tests and multivariable regression models.ResultsA total of 491 limbs from 247 patients were included, yielding 812 septocutaneous perforators. Limbs with fibular artery stenosis showed fewer perforators compared with limbs without stenosis (median 0.5 [0-2] vs. 2 [1-2], p ConclusionSeptocutaneous fibular artery perforators show reference-dependent spatial variability. Fibular artery stenosis is associated with fewer perforators, whereas only Kim run-off classification affects fibula-referenced location. These findings support artery-based mapping for fibula flap planning.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42452877 · DOI · PMC13370060
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article 68Ga-DOTATATE Compared with 111In-DTPA-Octreotide and Conventional Imaging for Pulmonary and Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article 68Ga-Labeled Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Ligand Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Epicardial adipose tissue volume assessed by computed tomography and coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article The Impact of Somatostatin Receptor-Directed PET/CT on the Management of Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [8]
- Research article Meta-analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis [9]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Molecular imaging of bacterial biofilms—a systematic review
S. W. G. van Hoogstraten, C. Kuik, J. J. C. Arts et al. · Critical Reviews in Microbiology 2024 · CC BY 4.0
Cancer or Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Clinical and Imaging Features in Diagnosis of the Confusing Mass
Yufan Xiang, Chen Huang, Yan He et al. · Frontiers in Oncology 2021 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Agrawal L, Agrawal PK, Agrawal SS, Sonune MS, Kadu RK, Kulkarni MB, et al.. AI-driven multimodal retinal imaging for early detection and risk stratification of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases. . 2026. PMID 42171726 · DOI · PMC13577979
- Panikar SS, Bansal D, Crandall J, Raman H, Picus J, Ippolito JE, et al.. Exploratory FDG PET/CT Imaging in mCRPC Patients Treated with Sipuleucel-T ± IL-7: A Phase II Trial Subanalysis. . 2026. PMID 42278652 · DOI · PMC13257278
- Ketschau J, Mohr J, Leonhardt Y, Grabenhorst A, Singer H, Kram H, et al.. Computed Tomography Angiography-Based Mapping of Septocutaneous Fibular Artery Perforators: An Anatomical Analysis. . 2026. PMID 42452877 · DOI · PMC13370060
- Roberts LR, Sirlin CB, Zaiem F, Almasri J, Prokop LJ, Heimbach JK, et al.. Imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hepatology. 2018. PMID 28859233 · DOI
- Deppen SA, Blume J, Bobbey AJ, Shah C, Graham MM, Lee P, et al.. 68Ga-DOTATATE Compared with 111In-DTPA-Octreotide and Conventional Imaging for Pulmonary and Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nucl Med. 2016. PMID 26769864 · DOI · PMC5362941
- von Eyben FE, Picchio M, von Eyben R, Rhee H, Bauman G. 68Ga-Labeled Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Ligand Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eur Urol Focus. 2018. PMID 28753806 · DOI
- Mancio J, Azevedo D, Saraiva F, Azevedo AI, Pires-Morais G, Leite-Moreira A, et al.. Epicardial adipose tissue volume assessed by computed tomography and coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2018. PMID 29236951 · DOI
- Barrio M, Czernin J, Fanti S, Ambrosini V, Binse I, Du L, et al.. The Impact of Somatostatin Receptor-Directed PET/CT on the Management of Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nucl Med. 2017. PMID 28082438 · DOI
- Mahmood M, Kendi AT, Ajmal S, Farid S, O'Horo JC, Chareonthaitawee P, et al.. Meta-analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. J Nucl Cardiol. 2019. PMID 29086386 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.