Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a new medical imaging technique which performs a di-
rect measurement of magnetic nanoparticles, also known as superparamagnetic iron oxide. MPI can
acquire quantitative images of the local distribution of the magnetic material with high spatial and tem-
poral resolution. Its sensitivity is well above that of other methods used for the detection and quanti-
fication of magnetic materials, for example, magnetic resonance imaging. On the basis of an
intravenous injection of magnetic particles, MPI has the potential to play an important role in medical
application areas such as cardiovascular, oncology, and also in exploratory fields such as cell labeling
and tracking. Here, we present an introduction to the basic function principle of MPI, together with an
estimation of the spatial resolution and the detection limit. Furthermore, the above-mentioned medical
applications are discussed with respect to an applicability of MPI.
Ó 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.