Oncologic applications of functional MRI

Functional MRI (fMRI), in a broad sense, has many applications in oncology. In terms of functional task activation imaging, common applications are in image-guided surgical resections of lesions, and applications to non-surgical approaches, such as stereotactic radiation therapy, are currently being evaluated. In terms of functional imaging assessment of the microvascular environment, applications include improved non-invasive characterization of lesions and the ability to quantitatively assess the effects of novel therapeutic regimens on lesions and surrounding normal tissues. Other functional MR applications, such as MR spectroscopy and diffusion imaging techniques, also have found applications in oncology. In this symposium session, current clinical and translational research applications of fMRI in oncology will be briefly reviewed.