Novel Imaging Technique in Preclinical Development: MRI Imaging of pH

A report in the journal Nature details preclinical studies of a novel imaging technique that might have relevance to cancer diagnostics or therapeutic monitoring in the future (abstract available here).  Dr. Kevin Brindle and colleagues showed that by using a modified form of bicarbonate detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pH (the degree to which a particular tissue is acidic or basic) can be imaged in vivo.  Although it is still a long way from the clinic, this technology could have important future implications in oncology and other areas of medicine.