Magnetic resonance imaging:
All studies were performed on full "Total imaging matrix "(Tim) MRI systems Siemens
MAGNETOM Espree 1.5T,
Verio 3.0T and Skyra 3.0T equipped with "Integrated Parallel Acquisition Technique" (iPAT).
MRI study protocol:
The study protocol includes T2-weighted coronal HASTE (Half Fourier single shot Turbo Spin Echo technique) and for overwhelming signal from adipose tissue 3D STIR (Short TI Inversion Recovery) images from the vertex to the proximal third of the leg capturing the whole body in the anterior-posterior direction.
Also diffusion-weighted images in transversal plane with b-value 800 were obtained using DWIBS technique (diffusion-weighted imaging with background body signal suppression.
Voxel size was 1,4x1,4x5,0 mm, 0,8x0,8x4,0 mm and 1,5x1,5x7,0 mm respectively.
Examination of thoracic and abdominal cavities was respiratory triggered to reduce the movement artifacts.
The total time of the study was about 35-45 min.
on 1,5T device and about 25-35 min.
on 3,0T units (depending on patients constitution and respiratory cycle).
To clarify the process extent and its specificity specialists consultation and complete sighting study of necessary areas by optimal set of complimentary diagnostic methods were performed.
Patient population:
The study included 3 groups of patients,
who did not receive any treatment:
1) Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma - 54 persons including 27 women,
27 men,
with average age 41 years (from 18 to 56 years)
2) Patients with other types of lymphoproliferative disease - 22 persons,
among them 11
women and 12 men,
mean patients age was 44 years (from 18 to 70 years)
3) Patients without a history of cancer pathology - 35 volunteers,
including 12 women and 23 men aged 25 to 70 years,
with average age 39 years.
All diagnosis in first and second groups were verified hystologically.
Patients of the first two groups were also examined in the course of treatment (on average after every two courses of chemotherapy and after radiation therapy (if any was held)).