Published October 22, 2026
Yale New Haven Hospital recently installed a state-of-the-art positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) system and will be the first in Connecticut to offer this imaging when the Adams Neurosciences Center opens in February.
PET imaging uses an injected radiotracer to identify areas of increased cellular activity, inflammation or disease processes, while MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's structures.
The new system combines these scans into a single platform and will help physicians evaluate complex neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy and support advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
“By performing both exams simultaneously, clinicians can see structure and function at the same time, helping provide a more complete picture of a patient’s condition,” said Christopher Whitlow, MD, PhD, radiologist in chief, Yale New Haven Hospital, and professor and chair of Radiology, Yale School of Medicine. “This technology will play an important role in patient care and clinical research, particularly in neuroscience and oncologic imaging.”
Additional PET/MRI benefits include lower radiation exposure compared with PET/CT imaging because it eliminates the need for a CT scan component. The technology also delivers superior soft-tissue visualization, particularly for the brain, spine, pelvis, liver, heart and other areas where MRI offers significant advantages.
