ABSTRACT
The theme of the ‘‘Bauhaus’’ movement, ‘‘form follows function,’’ may also apply to medical imaging. In many instances, organ dysfunction precedes anatomical changes. Imaging methods aimed primarily at anatomy such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) display morphological changes with high spatial and contrast resolution. Nuclear medicine imaging, targeted at the assessment of organ and tissue function, provides early information about pathophysiological changes, albeit with reduced spatial resolution.
