The complexity and heterogeneity of brain tumors (particularly gliomas, meningiomas, and metastases) require imaging strategies that move beyond structural assessment. Molecular imaging with PET/SPECT enables the in vivo analysis of tumor metabolism, receptor expression, and microenvironmental features. Moreover advanced MRI techniques provide functional, perfusional, and microstructural insights. The convergence of these modalities offers a noninvasive window into the biological and structural characteristics of intracranial neoplasms, supporting improved diagnostic precision and individualized care.

The emergence of hybrid PET/MRI, quantitative imaging biomarkers, and AI-based analytics in particular enhances the precision of neuro-oncologic imaging and its relevance for personalized medicine.

This Research Topic seeks to define the role of multimodal imaging as a key enabler of precision medicine in neuro-oncology. The goal is to investigate how Nuclear Medicine techniques and advanced MRI can deliver reliable and reproducible biomarkers for:

• Non-invasive diagnosis and tumor stratification;

• Preoperative and radiotherapy planning;

• Monitoring of disease evolution;

• Quantitative assessment of treatment response.

Through the collection of clinical and translational evidence, we aim to highlight the impact of integrated imaging in optimizing patient-specific diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

This Research Topic aims to collect high-impact original research, technical reports, and reviews that explore how multimodal imaging can support precision diagnosis and therapy planning in brain tumors. Submissions addressing quantitative imaging, molecular imaging tracers, radiomic signatures, and image-guided decision-making are particularly encouraged.

By integrating data from nuclear medicine and MRI modalities, and by leveraging artificial intelligence and radiomics, contributors can provide insight into how imaging contributes to clinical workflows and supports the translation of biological information into actionable treatment pathways.

We invite contributions in the following areas:

• Diagnostic accuracy of PET and advanced MRI in brain tumors;

• Imaging biomarkers for tumor grading and molecular profiling;

• SWI/ITSS and diffusion-based metrics as non-invasive correlates of tumor biology;

• PET/MRI fusion and multimodal co-registration for planning and monitoring;

• Radiomics and AI-driven prediction models in neuro-oncology;

• Integration of imaging into precision diagnostic and therapeutic workflows;

• Translational studies on imaging-guided therapy optimization;

• Theragnostic

This Research Topic accepts all article types in scope with the Journal section of Nuclear Medicine and the topic.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Multimodal Imaging in Neuro-Oncology: Advances in Nuclear Medicine and MRI for Precision Diagnostics and Therapy