Purpose
The aim of this study is to compare the performance of whole body MR studies including: the diffusion-weighted (DWIBS) and ADC mapping and STIR imaging, and whole body positron emission tomography with an integrated computed tomography scanner in patients diagnosed to have relapsing lymphoma.
Methods and Materials
Patient population:Between October 2008 and December 2009, 19 cases (14 males, and 8 females) with a median age of 66.5 (26-81 y) diagnosed to have recurrent lymphoma (9 HD, and 13 NHL) were referred to our department to undergo whole body MR imaging to evaluate the tumor load and for staging. PET/CT study was done for all patients within the same week of the MR examinations that was used as the reference whole-body modality to which whole-body diffusion and STIR studies were compared.PET/CT study:All studies...
Results
Whole-body DWIBS MR sequences provided high diagnostic quality images comparable to PET images (figure 1). There has been image distortion in abdomen and peritoneal reflections due to high susceptibility difference in these regions. In one patient DWIBS revealed possible para-aortic and mesenteric adenopathies that showed no activity on PET scans consistent with absence of involvement of the disease process (figure 2). This resulted in over-staging of tumor load by DWIBS where STIR was inconclusive. In agreement with previous authors (21), we observed that at b=1000,...
Conclusion
Noninvasive whole-body MR imaging provides a valuable tool in disclosing tumor load and staging of lymphoma. Whole body DWIBS and fat-suppressed STIR T2W MRI studies are feasible, relatively quick, not involving ionizing radiation techniques. Thus, they are inevitable screening tools and should be implemented in routine imaging of recurrent lymphoma.
References
References:
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