Whole-body PET imaging: A catalyst for whole-person research?

The introduction of total-body PET has encouraged the research community to investigate multi-organ interactions - the organ connectome for understanding human physiology and pathology. This article highlights the potential of using whole-body and total-body PET image information to conduct multi-organ connectome analysis for disease phenotyping. Novel data analytics schemes help realise such studies. Novel study protocols and paradigms, as well as translational research pipelines, will be required to support causal interpretations of inter-organ relationships. Ultimately, the widened adoption of multi-organ connectome studies via PET anticipates new, cross-speciality interactions among scientists, clinicians, and patients. It is our choice to engage in it now.