Which imaging method indicates deprivation of oxygen and is used for assessing tumor growth?

Hypoxia imaging is specifically designed to assess the level of oxygen deprivation in tissues, particularly in tumors. Tumors often have regions that are hypoxic due to rapid growth and inadequate blood supply. By using radiotracers that bind to tissues in low oxygen levels, this imaging method can provide valuable insights into tumor biology, helping to evaluate tumor aggressiveness and treatment response.

In contrast, cellular proliferation imaging focuses on the rate of cell division but does not directly measure oxygen levels. Melanoma imaging typically refers to methods primarily used for detecting or monitoring melanoma, not specifically assessing hypoxia. Diffusion-weighted imaging is a technique used primarily in MRI to measure the diffusion of water molecules in tissues, which can indicate tumor presence or cellularity but does not target oxygen levels specifically. Thus, hypoxia imaging is the most appropriate choice for indicating oxygen deprivation and evaluating tumor growth dynamics.